AIR developed and conducted three national surveys of patients and caregivers, clinicians, and researchers for the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to assess stakeholder awareness and interest in engaging in patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER). CER engages patients, clinicians, and other key stakeholders as co-investigators in research that compares the benefits and harms of different treatments or care delivery approaches. The goal is to improve informed decision-making by answering questions that matter most to patients and clinicians.

AIR designed the surveys to understand stakeholders’ perceptions of CER; their attitudes about patient and other stakeholder engagement in research; barriers and facilitators of using CER results in health decision making and clinical practice; and the potential for stakeholder engagement in research to enhance the uptake of research findings in clinical practice.