Outcomes research examines the end results of health services on individuals and is intended to provide scientific evidence relating to decisions made by all who participate in health care. This presentation examines two leading organizations in outcomes research: the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). AHRQ funds research to improve quality and safety, focusing on priority populations like children and the elderly. PCORI funds research allowing patients and providers to make informed decisions, with mental/behavioral health being the most studied condition. While outcomes research considers patient preferences, it is difficult to satisfy all patients regardless of efforts to provide evidence-based care.

1. OUTCOMES RESEARCH
Marilyn Alvarez
Research and Ethics

2. INTRODUCTION
Outcomes research examines the end results of health services on individuals and is
intended to provide scientific evidence relating to decisions made by all who
participate in health care. (Schmidt, N. A., & Brown, J. M., 2015)
This presentation will examine two leading organizations in outcomes research, the
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Patient Centered Outcomes
Research Institute.
After reviewing data about these two agencies, I will come to a conclusion about the
positive and negative aspects of outcome research that affect patients and healthcare
professionals.

3. PCORI PATIENT-CENTERED OUTCOMES RESEARCH
• https://www.pcori.org
This organization funds research that allows patients and healthcare providers make the best
informed decisions about their healthcare.
According to their website, mental/ behavioral health is the most studied condition, followed
by cancer.
Working in the mental health sector, this information was alarming to me because I see how
EBP use in this field is lacking. Furthermore, practices in mental health care are not managed
the way the patient would prefer.

4. AHRQ AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY
• https://www.ahrq.gov/
AHRQ also provides funding for research in health delivery systems. The intention is
to improve quality and safety of healthcare for the public and those that provide the
services.
It is interesting to learn that AHRQ has a list of priority populations to focus their
research on. That list is inclusive of children, chronic care, elderly, low-income,
minority, rural, and women, approved by the Healthcare Research and Quality Act of
1999.

5. PROS AND CONS OF OUTCOMES RESEARCH
PROS
Outcomes could be classified by many methods
1. Care-related, identifying benefits or lack of benefits
affected by the care provided.
2. Patient-related: individuals, groups, organizations
3. Performance-related
4. Time based outcomes: Short-term, intermediate, long-
term
Outcomes research takes into account patient preferences
and values.
Outcomes could be measured.
Financing to the healthcare organization could be
determined by the outcomes and patient satisfaction.
CONS
The center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
reimburses ACOs based on patient outcomes.
As a provider, it is easy to see that many patients will always
be dissatisfied regardless of the extent the healthcare
providers will go to satisfy the patient and provide the best
EBP.

6. REFERENCES
Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality. (n.d.). Retrieved May 24,
2018, from https://www.ahrq.gov/
PCORI. (n.d.). Retrieved May 24, 2018, from https://www.pcori.org/
Schmidt, N. A., & Brown, J. M. (2015). Evidence-Based Practice for
Nurses; Appraisal and Application of Research (3rd ed.).
Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.