Guidelines For Basic Science
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World J Gastrointest Endosc. Jun 16, 2012; 4(6): 236-240
Published online Jun 16, 2012. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v4.i6.236
Outcomes research in gastroenterology and endoscopy
Parantap Gupta, Jonathan M Buscaglia
Parantap Gupta, Jonathan M Buscaglia, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Stony Brook University Medical Center, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States
Author contributions: Gupta P and Buscaglia JM contributed equally to this work.
Correspondence to: Jonathan M Buscaglia, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Stony Brook University Medical Center, 100 Nicolls Road, HSC Level 17, Room 060, Stony Brook, NY 11794, United States. jonathan.buscaglia@sbumed.org
Telephone: +1-631-4442117 Fax: +1-631-4448886
Received: October 7, 2011
Revised: November 16, 2011
Accepted: May 27, 2012
Published online: June 16, 2012
Abstract

Although the field of outcomes research has received increased attention in recent years, there is still considerable uncertainty and confusion about what is “outcomes research”. The following editorial is designed to provide an overview on this topic, illustrate specific examples of outcomes research in clinical gastroenterology and endoscopy, and discuss its importance as a whole. In this article, we review the definition and specific goals of outcomes research. We outline the difference between traditional clinical research and outcomes research and discuss the benefits and limitations of outcomes research. We summarize the types of outcomes studies and methods utilized for outcomes assessment, and give specific examples of the impact of outcomes studies in the field of gastroenterology and endoscopy.

Keywords: Clinical research; Outcomes; Outcomes research