Matching study designs to disability-related comparative effectiveness research questions.
Comparative effectiveness research can help patients with disabilities; their caregivers and providers determine which healthcare choices are beneficial and will most reduce limitations and barriers, and improve quality of life. Well-designed comparative effectiveness research will be critical as the number of working-age adults affected by disability grows in the future, along with disability-related health expenditures. To better address the need for high-quality and informative research on the effectiveness of interventions for people with disabilities, the authors conducted a comprehensive review of existing standards for assessing evidence quality, collecting input from a wide range of experts and policy makers to determine the type of evidence needed for informing disability-related decision-making and the applicability of existing standards to disability research. This review article presents methodological and design issues for researchers to consider when addressing disability-related comparative effectiveness research questions.
Mathematica Policy Research, 600 Alexander Park, Suite 100, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.
Jeffrey
J
Ballou
Eugene
E
Rich
Matthew
M
Kehn
D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research / Q000379:methods*; D003657:Decision Making; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D012107:Research Design