How are Research Topics Chosen?

All suggestions for research are carefully considered. However, the Program uses a set of factors to assign priority to certain topics.

Health Care Service Priorities

Priority is given to health care services that:

Impose high costs on Medicare, Medicaid, or SCHIP programs
May be over or underutilized
May significantly improve the prevention, treatment, or cure of diseases and conditions that impose high direct or indirect costs on patients or society
Places a big burden on people, especially those who are “priority populations” as identified by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Patient Population Priorities

Priority is also given to suggestions that focus on certain patient populations, including:

Low-income groups
Minority groups
Women
Children
The elderly
Individuals with special health care needs, such as those with disabilities, those who need chronic care or end-of-life care, or those who live in inner-city and rural areas

Priority Conditions

Priority is given to research topics that focus on certain medical conditions. The list of medical conditions given priority for research are:

Arthritis and nontraumatic joint disorders (Muscle, bone, and joint conditions)
Cancer (Cancer)
Cardiovascular disease, including stroke and hypertension (Heart and blood vessel conditions)
Dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease (Brain and nerve conditions)
Depression and other mental health disorders (Mental health)
Developmental delays, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism (Developmental delays, ADHD, autism)
Diabetes mellitus (Diabetes)
Functional limitations and disability (Functional limitations and physical disabilities)
Infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS (Infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS)
Obesity (Obesity)
Peptic ulcer disease and dyspepsia (Digestive system conditions)
Pregnancy, including preterm birth (Pregnancy and childbirth)
Pulmonary disease/asthma (Breathing conditions)
Substance abuse (Alcohol and drug abuse)

Additional Selection Criteria

The list below provides additional detail regarding the selection criteria for research topics suggested to the Program:

Appropriateness

Represents a health care drug, intervention, device, or technology available (or soon to be available) in the US
Relevant to 1013 enrollees (Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP, other federal health care programs)
Represents one of the priority health conditions designated by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Importance

Represents a significant disease burden; affects a large proportion or priority population (e.g., children, elderly adults, low-income, rural/inner city, minorities, or other individuals with special health care or access issues)
Is of high public interest; affects health care decisionmaking, outcomes, or costs for a large proportion of the US population or for a priority population in particular
Was nominated/strongly supported by one or more stakeholder groups
Represents important uncertainty for decisionmakers
Incorporates issues around both clinical benefits and potential clinical harms
Represents important variation in clinical care or controversy in what constitutes appropriate clinical care
Represents high costs due to common use, high unit costs, or high associated costs to consumers, patients, health care systems, or payers

Duplication

Potential for redundancy (i.e., whether a proposed topic is already covered by available or soon-to-be available high-quality systematic review by AHRQ or others)

Feasibility

Effectively utilizes existing research and knowledge by considering:

Adequacy (type and volume) of research for conducting a systematic review
Newly available evidence (particularly for updates or new technologies)

Potential Value

Potential for significant health impact:

To improve health outcomes
To reduce significant variation in clinical practices known to be related to quality of care
To reduce unnecessary burden on those with health care problems

Potential for significant economic impact:

To reduce unnecessary or excessive costs

Potential for change:

The proposed topic exists within a clinical, consumer, or policymaking context that is amenable to evidence-based change
A product from the Program could be an appropriate vehicle

Potential risk from inaction:

Unintended harms from lack of prioritization of a nominated topic

Addresses inequities, vulnerable populations (including issues for patient subgroups).

Addresses a topic that has clear implications for resolving important dilemmas in health and health care decisions made by one or more stakeholder groups.