Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is the direct comparison of existing health care interventions to determine which work best for which patients and which pose the greatest benefits and harms.
[2] The Institute of Medicine committee has defined CER as "the generation and synthesis of evidence that compares the benefits and harms of alternative methods to prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor a clinical condition or to improve the delivery of care.
The purpose of CER is to assist consumers, clinicians, purchasers, and policy makers to make informed decisions that will improve health care at both the individual and population levels.
The PPACA states: The study of comparative effectiveness research (CER) is composed of measures useful in determining the value of various treatment options to help patients make more informed decisions in their own care.
[11] While there remains a widespread lack of understanding on the potential impact of CER in the U.S. and a reluctance to fully adopt the concept as part of our healthcare system, research studies within this area continue to expand across health conditions.