This Research Topic is a follow-on from the Topic Editor's
previous volume I.
The principles of evidence-based medicine have been widely accepted as the golden standard, not only for the evaluation of the quality of medicines but also for assessing the strength of evidence in healthcare research. Different “levels” of evidence may be possible for strengths of evidence. Prior to the 1962 amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, many drugs in the market were ineffective and unsafe. Now, controlled trials are widely accepted as the golden standard to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of drugs. However, controlled trials have their own limitations.
Most recently, real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) are playing an increasing role in healthcare decisions. The evidence may be generated from electronic health records (EHRs), registry data, claims and billing data, patient-generated data, etc. Evidence-based medicine for value in health using different levels of evidence, ranging from controlled trials to RWE, is largely unclear and less discussed. In addition, the role of medication use, access to, and impact on patient's clinical outcomes and the economic burden have received less attention.
There is a variety of ways to provide evidence-based medicine to inform clinical practice to achieve the best patient outcomes possible. The goal of this Research Topic is to provide evidence-based medicine by assessing the value of medicines that matter to decision-makers.
We welcome contributions to a range of evidence-based medicine but are not limited to:
- Evaluation of the effect of health policy on access, utilization, and quality.
- Pharmacoeconomic research based on trial data and real-world data.
- Economic burden of conditions and diseases among the older population.
- Patient-reported outcomes and quality of life in older patients.
- Health care reform for better access, utilization, and quality of medicines.
This Research Topic is open to article types including Original Research, Systematic Review, Perspective, and Study Protocol.
Submissions are encouraged from all types of public health systems from across the globe, with a focus on value in health using different “levels” of evidence-based medicine.