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Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Peppercorn, J; Zafar, SY; Houck, K; Ubel, P; Meropol, NJ
Published in: Lancet Oncol
March 2014

Comparative effectiveness research aims to inform health-care decisions by patients, clinicians, and policy makers. However, questions related to what information is relevant, and how to view the relative attributes of alternative interventions have political, social, and medical considerations. In particular, questions about whether cost is a relevant factor, and whether cost-effectiveness is a desirable or necessary component of such research, have become increasingly controversial as the area has gained prominence. Debate has emerged about whether comparative effectiveness research promotes rationing of cancer care. At the heart of this debate are questions related to the role and limits of patient autonomy, physician discretion in health-care decision making, and the nature of scientific knowledge as an objective good. In this article, we examine the role of comparative effectiveness research in the USA, UK, Canada, and other health-care systems, and the relation between research and policy. As we show, all health systems struggle to balance access to cancer care and control of costs; comparative effectiveness data can clarify choices, but does not itself determine policy or promote rationing of care.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Lancet Oncol

DOI

EISSN

1474-5488

Publication Date

March 2014

Volume

15

Issue

3

Start / End Page

e132 / e138

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Neoplasms
  • Humans
  • Health Care Rationing
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Comparative Effectiveness Research
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
  • 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
 

Citation

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Peppercorn, J., Zafar, S. Y., Houck, K., Ubel, P., & Meropol, N. J. (2014). Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care? Lancet Oncol, 15(3), e132–e138. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70597-7
Peppercorn, Jeffrey, S Yousuf Zafar, Kevin Houck, Peter Ubel, and Neal J. Meropol. “Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care?Lancet Oncol 15, no. 3 (March 2014): e132–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70597-7.
Peppercorn J, Zafar SY, Houck K, Ubel P, Meropol NJ. Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care? Lancet Oncol. 2014 Mar;15(3):e132–8.
Peppercorn, Jeffrey, et al. “Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care?Lancet Oncol, vol. 15, no. 3, Mar. 2014, pp. e132–38. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70597-7.
Peppercorn J, Zafar SY, Houck K, Ubel P, Meropol NJ. Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care? Lancet Oncol. 2014 Mar;15(3):e132–e138.
Journal cover image

Published In

Lancet Oncol

DOI

EISSN

1474-5488

Publication Date

March 2014

Volume

15

Issue

3

Start / End Page

e132 / e138

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Neoplasms
  • Humans
  • Health Care Rationing
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Comparative Effectiveness Research
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
  • 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis