title: Outcomes research: a methodologic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We explored the history and conceptual trends of outcomes research.
  
  
  METHODS
  We described different aspects of this field, after dividing it into conceptually distinct strata.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outcomes research can be divided into macro, meso and micro levels. Each level is further subdivided. Macro-level research targets cost and health care utilization, as well as racial, ethnic and geopolitical population health determinants. Meso-level studies address effectiveness, variability, disease impact, clinical modeling and program evaluation studies. Finally, micro-level studies address all aspects of direct patient-clinician decision-making.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An explosion of outcomes research has occurred in the past decades. Wide access to information technology, data sharing and collaborative efforts between researchers represent some of the ingredients that did and will continue to fuel that growth.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prognostics and Health Outcomes Unit, University of Montreal, Canada. pierre.karakiewicz@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Pierre I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Karakiewicz
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Briganti
authors.forename: Felix K-H
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valiquette
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D049451:Nomograms; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011468:Prostatectomy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D014572:Urology