title: Outcomes research using quality improvement databases: evolving opportunities and challenges.
abstract: The challenges to prospective randomized controlled trials have necessitated the exploration of observational data sets that support research into the predictors and modulators of preoperative adverse events. The primary purpose and design of quality improvement databases is quality assessment and improvement at the local, regional, or national level. However, these data can also provide the opportunity to robustly study specific questions related to patient outcomes with no additional clinical risk to the patient. The virtual explosion of anesthesia-related registries has opened seemingly limitless opportunities for outcomes research in addition to generating hypothesis for more rigorous prospective analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, 1 H427 University Hospital Box 0048, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0048, USA. rsatyak@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: Satya Krishna
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.forename: Sachin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kheterpal
mesh_terms: D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D012106:Research; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States