title: Defining cure.
abstract: This paper is a summary of the presentations made as Proposal 2-"Defining cure" to the 2nd Annual meeting of the ICI-Research Society, in Bristol, 16th June 2010. It reviews definitions of 'cure' and 'outcome', and considers the impact that varying definition may have on prevalence studies and cure rates. The difference between subjective and objective outcomes is considered, and the significance that these different outcomes may have for different stakeholders (e.g. clinicians, patients, carers, industry etc.) is discussed. The development of patient reported outcome measures and patient defined goals is reviewed, and consideration given to the use of composite end-points. A series of proposals are made by authors and discussants as to how currently validated outcomes should be applied, and where our future research activity in this area might be directed.
authors.affiliation: Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. paul.hilton@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hilton
authors.forename: Dudley
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*