PCORI awards new patient-centered CER to support informed health care decisions

(Press-News.org) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Every day, millions of Americans face health care decisions — often without the information needed to fully understand the pros and cons of different care options. To help address these evidence gaps, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute today announced funding awards for patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER) studies aimed at improving decision making across a variety of health concerns.  

“Patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research provides patients and those who care for them with the evidence they need to make more informed health care decisions and manage their health more effectively,” said PCORI Executive Director Nakela L. Cook, M.D., MPH. “These newly awarded studies will generate valuable information for individuals and families facing various health issues that affect many adults and children nationwide.” 

Funding highlights

9 new patient-centered CER studies addressing adult and pediatric health needs 

9 health research studies focused on improving CER methods, including meaningful patient engagement in CER studies 

6 projects advancing the uptake of PCORI-funded CER findings into real-world clinical settings 

Addressing real-world health challenges  

Among the newly awarded patient-centered CER studies, two focus on sleep health. One will compare treatment approaches for insomnia and another for sleep apnea — both common conditions affecting millions of adults.  

Another study will compare approaches including nondrug therapies for managing chronic low back pain in adults.  

In pediatric care, three studies will compare: 

Commonly prescribed antibiotics versus placebo to treat acute ear and sinus infections. 

Different intensities of behavioral and lifestyle treatments paired with obesity medication for weight loss. 

Two social needs assistance interventions to improve health among hospitalized children. 

Another study will compare treatment approaches for severe aortic stenosis caused by bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) — one of the most common heart defects. Researchers will compare surgical and transcatheter aortic valve replacement, which have not been compared extensively in people with BAV. 

Strengthening CER methods and impact  

In addition to clinical research studies, PCORI is funding:  

Six studies to address high-priority methodological gaps in patient-centered CER.  

Three studies to strengthen the evidence based on effectively engaging patients and other health and health care decision makers through the design and conduct of patient-centered CER.  

Accelerating uptake of PCORI-funded research results 

To advance the uptake of practice-changing research findings in care delivery settings, PCORI continues to fund implementation initiatives.  

Through PCORI’s Health Systems Implementation Initiative (HSII), four new projects will focus on one of the following: 

Improving hypertension diagnosis and management. 

Electronic monitoring of patient-reported outcomes during cancer treatment. 

Intensive lifestyle treatment for weight loss. 

Two additional projects through PCORI’s dissemination and implementation funding awards will:   

Expand access to hepatitis C treatment programs for people who inject drugs.  

Promote skin antisepsis practices to decrease infections in fracture surgeries. 

For more information and a full list of new awards, visit PCORI.org.   

All award funding has been approved pending final PCORI contractual considerations. 

About PCORI 

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is a nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to fund patient-centered comparative clinical effectiveness research (CER). CER compares two or more health care options, generating evidence about any differences in potential benefits or harms to empower patients, caregivers and other health care decision makers with information to make informed choices that reflect their needs and preferences. PCORI emphasizes the engagement of patients, caregivers and the broader health care community in all aspects of PCORI-funded research and research-related activities, including the dissemination and uptake of research findings.

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