Comparative Effectiveness Research: Informing Decisions and Improving Quality

Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is the study of methods to “prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor a clinical condition or to improve the delivery of care” (IOM 2009). Its purpose is to assist consumers, clinicians, purchasers, and policymakers in making informed decisions that will improve health care at both the individual and population levels (IOM 2009). Most CER is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and its agencies, including the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality and the National Institutes for Health. While CER is an established field, there is controversy related to the potential misuse of information developed from the research.