Outcome research examines the end results of health services on individuals in order to provide scientific evidence to inform healthcare decisions. It helps people make informed healthcare choices and improves delivery and outcomes by producing evidence-guided research. While outcome research groups like AHRQ and PCORI improve patient care and outcomes, outcome research relies on funding, so less common illnesses or those in developing countries may be understudied. Overall, outcome research can significantly impact healthcare policies by using evidence to guide decisions.

1. Looking at outcome
Research
Darren Siazon

2. What is Outcome Research?
According to Schmidt, Outcome Research is...
“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. (2015). Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses (3rd ed.).

3. https://www.pcori.org/research-
results-home
PCORI helps people make informed healthcare
decisions, and improves healthcare delivery and
outcomes, by producing and promoting high-integrity,
evidence-based information that comes from research
guided by patients, caregivers, and the broader
healthcare community.
Different types of outcome research groups
https://www.ahrq.gov/
AHRQ invests in research and evidence to make health
care safer and improve quality
Both of these research groups share similar goals and outcomes, in that they strive to
promote research that betters patient care and outcomes. Each on provide some
different outlooks. In the case of the AHRQ they provide education and teaching for
example as for PCORI, they stress on participating and how to help fund important
research.

4. Key outcome researches
● Overall the use of outcome research is an important cog
in helping lead the way on effective care. Some examples
of the use of outcome research could greatly change the
way we provide health care...
○ Basic Patient Education on Health
■ The reason I believe that research in providing more education to patients is that they are the center of their
care. Information in power and the more information they have the better they can work with healthcare providers in
getting the best patient outcomes and preventing any adverse events. The key is finding effective outlets in
getting not only the information out to the public but able to adequately teach them.
○ Healthcare Burnout
■ Working in the healthcare industry can be very taxing and often times healthcare members can oftentimes burnout or
become desensitized with their care. Research on how to best provide support to healthcare members and prevent the
point of burnout can help insure better patient outcomes.
○ Risk Benefits of Hospitalization
■ Some parts of the populations try and use the hospital particularly the ER as a Primary Provider. The problem with
this is the lack of consistency that would be provided with a Primary Physician. Another problem with using the
hospital as a PCP is that although needed hospitals are only necessary if needed and can sometimes cause detriments
with patients, such as poor care or transfer of infection. Also at times hospitals and ERs go through internal
disasters when major patient influx occurs when many of the patients may not need emergency services.

5. The Negative aspects of outcome research
● One major negative of using outcome research is that it
is reliant on funding as evident by the two examples of
research institutions. With that being said some less
than desirable researches may be drowned out due to the
low demand...
○ Third World Countries
■ Some of the major problems that affect some less than developed
countries may not take importance due to the lack of funding.
○ Illnesses Affecting Smaller Population
■ Due to the low number of cases the need for funds and research
may not be enough to pursue. Some of this research relies on
having substantial effects and having such a small population may
not seem as important to the public.

6. Final Thoughts
I believe that the use of Outcome Research can have a large
effect on how we progress in our healthcare policies. The use
of research to dictate policies has been a very effective
tool and can give a more scientific approach in health.
Having different institutions that accept funds and grants is
a great way of getting the public involved and feeling like
it is assisting in improving out healthcare.