The applicability of quality improvement research for comparative effectiveness

Excerpt

Quality improvement research (QIR) and comparative effectiveness research (CER) share a common goal of achieving a higher-performing healthcare system. Both CER and QIR have grown considerably over the past decade, CER out of the need for more relevant information for clinical and policy decisions, QIR as a result of the increasing attention to the uneven quality of healthcare [1]. Although the two fields have often favored different research methods – CER often relies on direct, controlled experimental comparisons while QIR often favors single arm studies in a “real world” context, both of these methodologies are needed for improving patient care. Future studies that incorporate elements of both disciplines will provide a context for understanding the most effective and efficient methods for changing clinical practice and ultimately improving patient outcomes. …