Assessment of the Need to Update Comparative Effectiveness Reviews: Report of an Initial Rapid Program Assessment (2005–2009) [Internet]

Excerpt

AHRQ recognizes that periodic assessments of the evidence base supporting each of the comparative effectiveness reviews is an important and necessary part of the Effective Health Care (EHC) Program. The rapidity with which new research findings accumulate makes it imperative that the evidence be assessed periodically to determine the need for a full-scale update. The EHC Program, then, initiated concurrent and parallel work to address this need both methodologically and programmatically. The development of methods guidance for updating was initiated to inform the research of systematic reviewers. This methodologic guidance will supplement the EHC Methods Guide for Comparative Effectiveness Reviews (www.effectiveheathcare.gov). In parallel with the methods effort, an initial, rapid program assessment was commissioned to assess the need for the findings of the CERs completed to that point to be updated. The Southern California Evidence-based Practice Center (SCEPC) was tasked with conducting this assessment. Findings from the assessment were presented to AHRQ for consideration within the usual program criteria to prioritize the topics for updating within the EHC Program. This document presents the findings from the assessment for public information and transparency.