This review describes methods used in comparative effectiveness research (CER). The aim of CER is to improve decisions that affect medical care at the levels of both policy and the individual. The key elements of CER are (a) head-to-head comparisons of active treatments, (b) study populations typical of day-to-day clinical practice, and (c) a focus on evidence to inform care tailored to the cha...

A retrospective survey, based on a standardized questionnaire sent to qualified public health experts in tuberculosis in 50 European countries, was carried out to evaluate the following: concordance between national vaccination programmes and WHO recommendations on BCG vaccination for prevention of tuberculosis; relation between BCG vaccination and revaccination policy and the tuberculosis epid...

Is dietary intake of folate too low? Pages 166-167 Martha Clare Morris and Christine C Tangney 6.

Methods of economic evaluation, especially cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-benefit analysis, are widely used to examine new healthcare technologies. However, few economic evaluations of pharmacogenomics have been conducted, and pharmacogenomic researchers may be unfamiliar with how to review or conduct these analyses. This review provides an overview of the methods of economic evaluation a...

A cost-effectiveness analysis is part of the U.K. ECMO Trial. In preparation for this analysis, existing evidence on the costs and effectiveness of neonatal ECMO was evaluated. ECMO appears to be more costly but may be more or less effective than conventional treatment. No case can be made for introducing ECMO before trial results are available.

OBJECTIVE The lack of a standard methodology in diagnostic research impedes adequate evaluation before implementation of constantly developing diagnostic techniques. We discuss the methodology of diagnostic research and underscore the relevance of decision analysis in the process of evaluation of diagnostic tests. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING Overview and conceptual discussion. RESULTS Diagnost...

Background There has been scarcity of research to assess the costeffectiveness of rehabilitation interventions for post-stroke cases despite the increasing importance of this service to minimise post-stroke functional problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a carerassisted home-based therapy against a usual therapy for long-term stroke survivors residing in the...