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Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews

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Methods Guide – Chapter – Aug. 24, 2009

Methods Guide for Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews

Table of Contents published 18 Nov 2008

Effectiveness and Comparative Effectiveness Reviews, systematic reviews of existing research on the effectiveness, comparative effectiveness, and comparative harms of different health care interventions, are intended to provide relevant evidence to inform real-world health care decisions for patients, providers, and policymakers. In an effort to improve the transparency, consistency, and scientific rigor of the work of the Effective Health Care (EHC) Program, through a collaborative effort, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Scientific Resource Center, and the Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs) have developed a Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews. We intend that these documents will serve as a resource for our EPCs as well as for other investigators interested in conducting Comparative Effectiveness Reviews.

The first draft of the Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews was posted for public comment for 8 weeks in late 2007. In response to requests from investigators and others interested in Comparative Effectiveness Review methods, we have reposted the original chapters of the draft guide (806 kb, PDF Help). As these chapters are revised in response to public and peer review comment, they will replace the previous draft chapter and be posted below. If indicated by concurrent link, the paper has been additionally reviewed and published through the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology process and can be accessed through their publication. As further empiric evidence develops and our understanding of better methods improves, we anticipate that there will be subsequent updates and additional chapters to this Methods Guide and that it will continue to be a living document. Comments and suggestions on the Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews and the Effective Health Care Program can be made at http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov.

Working Table of Contents

Foreword: Comparing Medical Interventions: AHRQ and the Effective Health Care Program
AHRQ Manuscript: Published 18 Nov 2008. Select for HTML or PDF File (95 kb). PDF Help.
Other publication(s): Slutsky J, Atkins D, Chang S, et al. Comparing medical interventions: AHRQ and the Effective Health Care Program. J Clin Epidemiol 2008 Sep 30.

Principles in Developing and Applying Guidance for Comparing Medical Interventions
AHRQ Manuscript: Published 08 Aug 2009. Select for PDF File (113 kb). PDF Help.
Other publications(s): Helfand M, Balshem H. Principles for developing guidance: AHRQ and the Effective Health Care Program. J Clin Epidemiol 2009 in press.

Identifying, Selecting and Refining Topics for Comparative Effectiveness Systematic Reviews
AHRQ Manuscript: Published 27 Apr 2009. Select for HTML or PDF File (589 kb). PDF Help.
Other publications(s): Whitlock E, Lopez S, Chang S, et al. Identifying, selecting, and refining topics for comparative effectiveness systematic reviews: AHRQ and the Effective Health Care Program. J Clin Epidemiol 2009 June 21.

Finding Evidence for Comparing Medical Interventions
AHRQ Manuscript under review.

Selecting Evidence for Comparing Medical Interventions
AHRQ Manuscript under review.

Assessing the Quality of Studies when Comparing Medical Interventions
AHRQ Manuscript under review.

Assessing the Applicability of Studies when Comparing Medical Interventions
AHRQ Manuscript under review.

Assessing Harms when Comparing Medical Interventions
AHRQ Manuscript: Published 18 Nov 2008. Select for HTML or PDF File (188 kb). PDF Help.
Other publication(s): Chou R, Aronson N, Atkins D, et al. Assessing harms when comparing medical interventions: AHRQ and the Effective Health Care Program. J Clin Epidemiol 2008 Sep 25.

Quantitative Synthesis for Comparing Medical Interventions
AHRQ Manuscript under review.

Grading the Strength of a Body of Evidence when Comparing Medical Interventions
AHRQ Manuscript: Published 05 Aug 2009. Select for HTML or PDF File (193 kb). PDF Help.
Other publication(s): Owens D, Lohr K, Atkins D, et al. Grading the strength of a body of evidence when comparing medical interventions: AHRQ and the Effective Health Care Program. J Clin Epidemiol 2009 Jul 11.

Avoiding Potential Biases when Comparing Medical Interventions
Work in Progress — Draft Due winter-2009

Using Existing Systematic Reviews to Replace de Novo Processes in CERs
AHRQ Manuscript: Draft posted for public comment 26 May 2009. Select for HTML or PDF File (77 kb). PDF Help.

Updating Reports Comparing Medical Interventions
Work in Progress — Draft Due mid-2009

Comparing Diagnostic Technologies
Work in Progress — Draft Due Fall 2009

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