Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Adopts Revised Methodology Standards, Okays Targeted Research Topics, at Boston Board Meeting

Boston, Mass. – The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors has adopted 47 revised Methodology Standards to guide the conduct of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR), as recommended by PCORI’s Methodology Committee.

The Board, at its November 19 meeting here, also authorized the development of three targeted funding announcements to support studying treatment options for uterine fibroids; the safety and benefits of treatment options for severe asthma; and fall prevention in the elderly. The Board also asked PCORI staff to provide two additional topics to consider for funding announcements in early 2013. The revised methods standards were based on the Methodology Committee’s analysis and review of 124 sets of public comments solicited during a 54-day public comment period earlier this year. A full narrative report, providing context for the standards, will be revised and published next spring.

“The process of developing, refining and finalizing these standards marks an enormous achievement and a critical step in advancing the field of patient-centered outcomes research,” said PCORI Executive Director Joe Selby, MD, MPH. “We now look forward to working with our many stakeholders to see that these standards become a highly useful and valued resource for the entire healthcare community.” In addition to presenting the Board with the revised standards, the Methodology Committee also provided 62 recommendations for actions and research related to: Standards for Formulating Research Questions

Patient Centeredness
Dissemination
Research Prioritization
General and Crosscutting Methods for All PCOR
Design-specific Methods

Board approval of the targeted funding announcement process “will jump-start our long-term topic generation and research prioritization strategy,” Selby said. “We leveraged previous stakeholder input from across the healthcare community to identify the first three high-priority research topics we plan to address. We look forward to collaborating with experts and stakeholders to further refine research questions in each area, as we prepare these announcements.”