New Study Puts Previous 5 Years of NPC Annual CER Survey Into Perspective

For the last five years, we’ve had our fingers on the pulse of what health care stakeholders are thinking about comparative effectiveness research and its potential impact on health care decision-making. This year is no different, and with the help of our research partners, Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., we’re in the process of tabulating the latest results, with an expected release date of March 14.

Before we look ahead to year six, it’s helpful to understand the environment to date. A recently published, peer-reviewed study, “Comparative Effectiveness Research in the U.S.: When Will There Be an Impact on Decision-Making?” puts the previous five years into perspective.

Published in the Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research, the study tracks the results of an annual survey of stakeholders who include federal government agencies; health insurers, health management companies and health systems; employers; business coalitions/human resources specialists; and trade or advocacy groups. The survey asks for their opinions on which organizations play a leading role in setting CER priorities, establishing research standards, funding and conducting the research, as well as translating and disseminating the information. It also asks whether CER is having an impact on health care decision-making.

Among the key trends over five years:

• Annual surveys of health care decision makers found high awareness and familiarity with CER and sustained perception of its importance.
• Although most of these stakeholders believe CER will ultimately have a positive impact, they report little impact in the recent past and see little in the short-term future.
• In each of five successive surveys, stakeholders indicated that substantial CER impact is at least three to five years in the future.
• Stakeholders note the growing significance of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s role in establishing research standards and funding and monitoring CER, and they expect the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to have a leading role in translating and disseminating research.

Based on the responses, we expect that the recent surge in CER activity will add to the evidence base, but significant barriers to effective use of this evidence will remain without improved efforts to translate and disseminate findings. In addition, stakeholders will realize greater impact from CER only if new efforts provide information that is readily available and can be applied within their health care systems to real-world decisions in specific patient populations.

What has changed in year six, and what new trends have we uncovered? We’ll share the answers to these and other questions on March 14 at 2:00 pm, during a webinar with NPC Vice President for Health Services Research Kimberly Westrich, MA, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Executive Director Dr. Joe Selby and AcademyHealth President and CEO Dr. Lisa Simpson. NPC President Dan Leonard, MA, will moderate the discussion.

Mark your calendars now for our webinar—we’re looking forward to having an insightful conversation.