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PCORI

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

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    About Us

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    Fact Sheets: Learn More About PCORI

    Download fact sheets about out work, the research we fund, and our programs and initiatives.

    Find It Fast

    Browse through an alphabetical list of frequently accessed and searched terms for information and resources.

    Subscribe to PCORI Email Alerts

    Sign up for weekly emails to stay current on the latest results of our funded projects, and more.

  • Research & Results
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    Research & Results

    • Explore Our Portfolio
    • Research Fundamentals
    • Research Results Highlights
    • Putting Evidence to Work
    • Peer Review
    • Evidence Synthesis
    • About Our Research

    Evidence Updates from PCORI-Funded Studies

    These updates capture highlights of findings from systematic reviews and our funded research studies.

    Journal Articles About Our Funded Research

    Browse through a collection of journal publications that provides insights into PCORI-funded work.

    Explore Our Portfolio of Funded Projects

    Find out about projects based on the health conditions they focus on, the state they are in, and if they have results.

  • Topics
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    Topics

    • Addressing Disparities
    • Arthritis
    • Asthma
    • Cancer
    • Cardiovascular Disease
    • Children's Health
    • Community Health Workers
    • COVID-19
    • Dementia and Cognitive Impairment
    • Diabetes
    • Kidney Disease
    • Medicaid
    • Men's Health
    • Mental and Behavioral Health
    • Minority Mental Health
    • Multiple Chronic Conditions
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Obesity
    • Older Adults' Health
    • Pain Care and Opioids
    • Rare Diseases
    • Rural Health
    • Shared Decision Making
    • Telehealth
    • Transitional Care
    • Veterans Health
    • Women's Health

    Featured Topic: Women's Health

    Learn more about the projects we support on conditions that specifically or more often affect women.

  • Engagement
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    Engagement

    • The Value of Engagement
    • Engagement in Health Research Literature Explorer
    • Influencing the Culture of Research
    • Engagement Awards
    • Engagement Resources
    • Engage with Us

    Engagement Tools and Resources for Research

    This searchable peer-to-peer repository includes resources that can inform future work in patient-centered outcomes research.

    Explore Engagement in Health Literature

    This tool enables searching for published articles about engagement in health research.

    Research Fundamentals: A New On-Demand Training

    It enables those new to health research or patient-centered research to learn more about the research process.

  • Funding Opportunities
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    Funding Opportunities

    • What & Who We Fund
    • What You Need to Know to Apply
    • Applicant Training
    • Merit Review
    • Awardee Resources
    • Help Center

    PCORI Funding Opportunities

    View and learn about the newly opened funding announcements and the upcoming PFAs in 2021.

    Tips for Submitting a Responsive LOI

    Find out what PCORI looks for in a letter of intent (LOI) along with other helpful tips.

    PCORI Awardee Resources

    These resources can help awardees in complying with the terms and conditions of their contract.

  • Meetings & Events
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    Meetings & Events

    • Upcoming
    • Past Events

    January 2021 Board of Governors Meeting

    The Board approved funding for a new research study relating to kidney health and a new funding allocation for PCORnet. Learn more

    Confronting COVID-19: A Webinar Series

    Learn more about the series and access recordings and summary reports of all six sessions.

    2020 PCORI Annual Meeting

    Watch recordings of all sessions, and view titles and descriptions of the posters presented at the virtual meeting.

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  • Research & Results
  • About Our Research
  • Research Methodology

Research Methodology

Download Fact Sheet

Developing and improving the science and methods of patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) is a central part of PCORI’s work. Better methods will produce more valid, trustworthy, and useful information that will lead to better healthcare decisions and, ultimately, to improved patient outcomes.

PCORI Research Continuum - Why Methods Matter
Improved Methods for PCOR/CER - Research supported by Methods PCORI Funding Announcements
Improved PCOR/CER Studies
Improved Clinical Evidence

Methodology Standards

PCORI's Methodology Committee, in accordance with PCORI’s authorizing legislation, submitted to the Board of Governors on May 10, 2012, the first draft PCORI Methodology Report. After a 54-day public comment period, the report’s draft Methodology Standards were revised and adopted by the Board on November 19, 2012, then published on December 14, 2012. At its November 18, 2013, meeting, the Board of Governors approved minor editorial revisions to the standards.

Since then, the Board has adopted a major revision to the standards (May 2017) and along with twenty-two additional standards, including standards for research designs using clusters (May 2017); standards for data management plans and studies of complex interventions (April 2018); and standards for qualitative methods, mixed methods research, and individual participant-level data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) (February 2019).

PCORI considers the accomplishment of developing, refining, and finalizing these standards to be a critical step in advancing the field of PCOR. We look forward to working with our many stakeholders to see that these standards become a useful and valued resource for the entire healthcare community. Proposed studies are required to adhere to relevant PCORI methodology standards, as updated in 2019. We recognize that a variety of study designs and analytic methods may contribute valid new knowledge. If a proposed study uses an approach or methods not covered by those standards, it should adhere to other currently accepted best practices. Learn more

Methodology Report

During its November 18, 2013, meeting, PCORI’s Board of Governors accepted the report presented by PCORI’s Methodology Committee, which was revised to address extensive feedback received from the healthcare community during a public comment period that followed the July 2012 release of a draft.

On May 8, 2017, the PCORI Board of Governors adopted a major revision of our methodology standards, including the addition of a 12th category of standards, and an updated version of the Methodology Report was released in July 2017. On April 30, 2018, the Board of Governors adopted an additional six standards; an update to the Methodology Report was released in January 2019. An updated Methodology Report that reflects the recently adopted standards for qualitative methods, mixed methods research, and IPD-MA is expected later in 2019.

The PCORI Methodology Standards
The PCORI Methodology Report
Frequently Asked Questions
Methods Study Spotlights

Articles of Interest

Getting the Methods Right — The Foundation of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Sherine E. Gabriel, M.D., and Sharon-Lise T. Normand, Ph.D., New England Journal of Medicine, Aug. 30, 2012.

Toward Patient-Centered Drug Development in Oncology
Ethan Basch, MD, New England Journal of Medicine, Aug. 1, 2013.

Download Fact Sheet


Posted: September 21, 2013; Updated: February 26, 2019

Research Methodology

  • PCORI Methodology Standards
  • The PCORI Methodology Report
  • PCORI Methodology Standards and Report FAQ
  • Methodology Standards Academic Curriculum
  • Methodology Committee - Workshops and Events
  • Methods Study Spotlights

About Us

  • Our Programs
  • Governance
  • Financials and Reports
  • Procurement Opportunities
  • Our Staff
  • Our Vision & Mission
  • Contact Us

Research & Results

  • Explore Our Portfolio
  • Research Fundamentals
  • Research Results Highlights
  • Putting Evidence to Work
  • Peer Review
  • Evidence Synthesis
  • About Our Research

Engagement

  • The Value of Engagement
  • Engagement in Health Research Literature Explorer
  • Influencing the Culture of Research
  • Engagement Awards
  • Engagement Resources
  • Engage with Us

Funding Opportunities

  • What & Who We Fund
  • What You Need to Know to Apply
  • Applicant Training
  • Merit Review
  • Awardee Resources
  • Help Center

Meetings & Events

January 21
Cycle 1 2021 Broad PFA Applicant Town Hall
February 2
PCORI 2021 and Beyond: Opportunities for Funding and Involvement in Patient-Centered Research
February 9
Board of Governors Meeting: February 9, 2021

PCORI

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Patient-Centered Outcomes
Research Institute

1828 L Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 827-7700 | Fax: (202) 355-9558
[email protected]

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