Understanding Source-Related Influences on Physicians Translating Comparative Effectiveness Research into Patient Care: Results from a Study of Cardiologists

Abstract

Comparative effectiveness research (CER), which refers to an evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of two or more medical interventions that are used to treat the same condition, has the potential to inform decision-making in both policy circles and physicians’ exam rooms. The ability of stakeholders to translate that research into practice has important implications for health outcomes, but the impact of information sources on physicians in translating CER remains understudied. This project examines the source-related influences on and motivations of cardiologists with respect to willingness to make changes in their practice based on emerging CER results. The results from this survey of cardiologists (N = 42) indicate that the sources of information (including perceived credibility of those sources) matter greatly to cardiologists when deciding whether to make a change in practice. These findings suggest data-based implications for researchers and practitioners that are engaged in closing the CER translation gap.