Outcomes Research Using Claims Databases: A Critical Review and Case Study

Outcomes research (OR) is an evolving and critical part of health sciences research due to its focus on the improvement of patient care in the practice setting. Evidence included in OR spans all available clinical information, from data generated by randomized controlled trials to real-world clinical, economic, humanistic, patient-reported, and patient satisfaction data. Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is a branch of OR that compares the overall benefit or cost of two active interventions. The use of claims databases has emerged as a valid, rigorous, and efficient source of data for CER. Due to the inability to control for all confounders, techniques such as propensity score matching and quality checks are necessary to maintain data accuracy and validity. A case study comparing two oral medications used in the treatment of gout will be used to illustrate the techniques, advantages, and disadvantages of using claims databases in OR.Master of Public Healt