title: Tutorials in clinical research: part V: outcomes research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is the fifth in a series of sequential "Tutorials in Clinical Research." The objective of the present report is to give the reader a broad overview of the field of outcomes research. This summary is intended to enable the reader to understand outcomes research methodology and to start the design of an outcomes research study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tutorial.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors developed the report from available materials and refined it to be concise but complete for use by the practicing clinician.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We describe the basic steps of record-based and patient-based outcomes research, including development of a staging system, identification of comorbid conditions, and creation or identification of an outcomes instrument.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Outcomes research is a unique methodology that uses patient-based outcomes to assess the effectiveness of medical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Bobby R. Alford Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Communicative Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: J Gail
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Neely
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Forsen
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States