Evidence-based Practice Resource

Comparative effectiveness research is designed to inform health-care decisions by providing evidence on the effectiveness, benefits, and harms of different treatment options. The evidence is generated from research studies that compare drugs, medical devices, tests, surgeries, or ways to deliver health care.

There are two ways that this evidence is found:

Evidence Informed Decision Making Workshop
May 3, 2011
 

• An overview of the resources available to you to find the research evidence
• An understanding of the different levels of “pre-appraised” sources of evidence
• An introduction to some new tools
• A feeling of excitement to explore them
   

Rapid evidence-assessments (REAs) are reviews and assessments of health evidence on specific topics or in response to specific clinical questions. A rapid evidence assessment should provide a robust synthesis of the existing international evidence in as little as four to six weeks for specific research questions. In terms of methodology, REAs follow some of the principles of the systematic review but within a much shorter time frame; concessions are also always made in terms of methodological rigour. That said, REAs have their place in literature reviews and are starting to gain favour in Canada, the United States and the UK especially within the educational, government and policy sectors.

In this section, you will find an overview of Canada's health care system. More detailed information is also available on specific elements of the health care system, including health human resources, primary health care, home and community care and pharmaceuticals coverage. There is also information on studies examining the health care system and links to further information.