Comparative Effectiveness Research and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research

An Introductory Course by MDAndersonX

Course Description

Embark on a comprehensive journey into the world of Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) with this introductory course from MDAndersonX. This course, supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, offers a deep dive into the critical skills needed for evidence-based healthcare decision-making. You'll master the art of conducting systematic reviews, performing meta-analyses, and interpreting complex scientific literature. By the end of this course, you'll be equipped with the tools to navigate the vast sea of biomedical information and transform it into actionable insights for improved patient care.

What Students Will Learn

  • Conduct and interpret systematic reviews and meta-analyses with confidence
  • Develop advanced literature search strategies using academic databases
  • Critically appraise scientific literature for validity and relevance
  • Understand the principles of economic evaluations in healthcare
  • Learn how clinical practice guidelines are developed and applied
  • Master decision analysis techniques for outcomes research
  • Gain insights into patient-centered outcomes research methods

Prerequisites

While the introductory course (CERTaIN.1x) is recommended, it is not mandatory. This course is designed for individuals with a basic understanding of healthcare research and statistics. Familiarity with medical terminology and basic research concepts would be beneficial.

Course Content

  • Overview of Systematic Reviews
  • Finding and Managing Evidence from Biomedical Literature
  • Intervention Reviews Methodology
  • Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials: Direct and Indirect Comparisons
  • Meta-Analysis of Non-Randomized Studies
  • Diagnostic Test Evaluation
  • Meta-Synthesis
  • Clinical Practice Guidelines
  • Economic Evaluation
  • Decision Analysis for Outcomes Research

Who This Course Is For

This course is ideal for healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and students interested in evidence-based medicine, healthcare quality improvement, and patient-centered outcomes research. It's particularly valuable for those looking to enhance their skills in comparative effectiveness research and make data-driven decisions in healthcare.

Real-World Applications

  • Healthcare providers can use systematic review techniques to stay updated on the latest evidence-based practices.
  • Researchers can conduct more robust studies using advanced meta-analysis methods.
  • Policymakers can make informed decisions based on economic evaluations and clinical practice guidelines.
  • Pharmaceutical companies can utilize decision analysis for drug development and marketing strategies.
  • Healthcare administrators can implement evidence-based protocols to improve patient outcomes.
  • Students and academics can enhance their research capabilities and contribute to the growing field of patient-centered outcomes research.

Syllabus

1. Overview of Systematic Reviews

Knowledge synthesis and the knowledge-to-action process, benefits and limitations of systematic reviews, steps of a systematic review and levels of evidence

2. Finding and Managing the Evidence from the Biomedical Literature

Searching published and unpublished materials systematically

3. Intervention Reviews Methodology

Selecting and appraising studies, strategies for collecting and analyzing data, reporting and updating systematic reviews

4. Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials: Direct Comparisons

Qualitative and quantitative synthesis, data analysis models, heterogeneity, reporting methods for meta-analyses

5. Introduction to Meta-Analysis: Indirect Comparisons

Indirect comparisons, evidence networks, effect modifiers and bias sources

6. Meta-Analysis of Non-Randomized Studies

Risks of bias in non-randomized studies, meta-regression techniques, reporting meta-analyses of non-randomized studies

7. Diagnostic Test Evaluation

Purposes for medical testing, precision and accuracy, measures of validity for diagnostic/screening tests, likelihood ratio and ROC curves for test performance analysis

8. Meta-Synthesis

Methods for collecting and synthesizing data, reporting meta-synthesis findings

9. Clinical Practice Guidelines

Guideline development process, evidence evaluation, guideline evaluation and revision

10. Economic Evaluation

Clinical decision analysis and economic evaluation, costs and methods for economic evaluation, cost-effectiveness and cost analysis, steps for economic evaluation

11. Decision Analysis for Outcomes Research

Decision analysis and modeling, Markov modeling, capturing uncertainty in models, examples of decision modeling in cancer outcomes research