Good ReseArch for Comparative Effectiveness (GRACE)

Outcome leads the GRACE (Good ReseArch for Comparative Effectiveness) Initiative, which is supported, in part, by seed funding from the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).

The GRACE principles address good practice for the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of observational studies of comparative effectiveness. These principles are intended to meet the needs of those who conduct studies and those who need to evaluate the rigor of such studies to inform decision-making about therapeutic alternatives. These principles are designed in the form of questions to guide high-level evaluation; no scoring system is proposed or intended. They are intended as a living document that may change over time, and will be expanded to address special applications.

The ultimate goal of the principles is to enhance the quality of observational comparative effectiveness research and thus promote and facilitate the use of this research to support decision-making by patients, physicians, and payers. The GRACE principles are formally endorsed by the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE) and are supported by a number of professionals and organizations.

Download a copy of the GRACE Principles here: www.graceprinciples.org/prin.html

This Initiative intends to continue developing more detailed information about the applicability of these principles. We are seeking contributors from government, academia, health plans, professional organizations, and other interested parties to participate in further development of the GRACE principles, including guidance for special applications, and to help build an on-line library of case studies to illustrate how observational comparative effectiveness studies have been used to support decision-making.

For more information, to receive a copy of the GRACE Principles, or to become a contributor, please visit www.graceprinciples.org or contact coordinator@graceprinciples.org.