Measuring effectiveness and outcomes of interventions for renal disease

Effectiveness research, often called patient outcome research, is an evolving research discipline that attempts to provide information about the appropriate use of medical practices. This field of research uses epidemiological methods (observational and randomized controlled trials), analyses of variation and outcomes in medical practices, formal literature reviews and meta-analyses, quality of life measurement, decision analysis, patient preference assessment, patient satisfaction assessment, and economic and cost-effectiveness analysis. Several recent studies have applied a variety of these methods to provide data that will assist health professionals in the field of nephrology to make more informed clinical decisions. More of these studies are needed as new interventions are developed and tested in an environment where policy makers are asking how much value these interventions add and at what cost.