title: Untapped Potential of Observational Research to Inform Clinical Decision Making: American Society of Clinical Oncology Research Statement.
abstract: ASCO believes that high-quality observational studies can advance evidence-based practice for cancer care and are complementary to randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Observational studies can generate hypotheses by evaluating novel exposures or biomarkers and by revealing patterns of care and relationships that might not otherwise be discovered. Researchers can then test these hypotheses in RCTs. Observational studies can also answer or inform questions that either have not been or cannot be answered by RCTs. In addition, observational studies can be used for postmarketing surveillance of new cancer treatments, particularly in vulnerable populations. The incorporation of observational research as part of clinical decision making is consistent with the position of many leading institutions. ASCO identified five overarching recommendations to enhance the role of observational research in clinical decision making: (1) improve the quality of electronic health data available for research, (2) improve interoperability and the exchange of electronic health information, (3) ensure the use of rigorous observational research methodologies, (4) promote transparent reporting of observational research studies, and (5) protect patient privacy.
authors.affiliation: Kala Visvanathan, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Laura A. Levit and Clifford A. Hudis, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA; Derek Raghavan, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC; Sandra Wong, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; Amylou Dueck, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Gary H. Lyman, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Kala
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Visvanathan
authors.affiliation: Kala Visvanathan, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Laura A. Levit and Clifford A. Hudis, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA; Derek Raghavan, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC; Sandra Wong, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; Amylou Dueck, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Gary H. Lyman, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Levit
authors.affiliation: Kala Visvanathan, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Laura A. Levit and Clifford A. Hudis, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA; Derek Raghavan, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC; Sandra Wong, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; Amylou Dueck, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Gary H. Lyman, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raghavan
authors.affiliation: Kala Visvanathan, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Laura A. Levit and Clifford A. Hudis, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA; Derek Raghavan, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC; Sandra Wong, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; Amylou Dueck, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Gary H. Lyman, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Clifford A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hudis
authors.affiliation: Kala Visvanathan, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Laura A. Levit and Clifford A. Hudis, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA; Derek Raghavan, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC; Sandra Wong, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; Amylou Dueck, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Gary H. Lyman, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Kala Visvanathan, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Laura A. Levit and Clifford A. Hudis, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA; Derek Raghavan, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC; Sandra Wong, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; Amylou Dueck, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Gary H. Lyman, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Amylou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dueck
authors.affiliation: Kala Visvanathan, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Laura A. Levit and Clifford A. Hudis, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, VA; Derek Raghavan, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC; Sandra Wong, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; Amylou Dueck, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Gary H. Lyman, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Gary H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Lyman
mesh_terms: D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making / Q000379:methods*; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards