The second volume in the Health Services Research series provides a series of perspectives on
comparative effectiveness research. Motivated by concern from the general public governments
in virtually all countries with developed and rapidly developing economies have been actively
seeking and promoting ways of improving the patient experience of health care improving the
health of populations and reducing the per capita cost of health care. While comparing
treatment outcomes is not a new concept appreciation of its potential application has grown in
recent years. In addition to traditional health sciences methods modern approaches to
comparative effectiveness research now include greater emphasis on social sciences frameworks
such as economics ethics and implementation science. Moreover a key feature of the modern
approach to comparing treatment outcomes is a focus on the individual patient through explicit
consideration of inter-patient variability and patient-reported outcomes. Comparative
Effectiveness Research presents a series of chapters of relevance including introductions to
areas that are being incorporated when comparing treatments country-specific applications
patient-centred approaches and modern methods. Included are chapters on the following areas
that are being considered in treatment comparisons: ethics economics and costs implementation
science modern payment schemes (coverage with evidence development) and priority setting.
Country-specific examples include an overview chapter on national approaches from various
countries in Europe Australia and Canada as well as specific chapters on comparative
effectiveness research in Brazil and in the United States. The focus on the individual patient
is described through chapters on patient-centred comparative effectiveness research
individualized treatment the link with personalized medicine and incorporating patient and
public input for treatment. Methodological chapters include overviews of data sources study
designs new statistical methods of combining results the link with evidence-based medicine
specific issues when comparing drug and non-drug technologies and dissemination of results.
