Outcomes research in oncology: History, conceptual framework, and trends in the literature

"Outcomes research") is a commonly used term, but what does it really mean? In this review article, we 1) briefly review the historic background of ou tcomes research, paying particular attention to the social and political mo vements that helped shape the field; 2) present a conceptual framework to h elp classify the major areas of research and provide a working definition o f outcomes research; and 3) review the oncology literature in the English l anguage from 1966 through 1998 to examine temporal trends and characterize the body of work being presented to the practicing oncology community, We c onclude that outcomes research is a broad concept, which, in its current us age, describes an array of distinct types of research, However, common them es are apparent when outcomes research is viewed in the context of its hist oric origins and is contrasted with other established disciplines, especial ly clinical trials. Our literature review shows that outcomes studies are i ncreasing in absolute numbers, in relative proportion of the oncology liter ature, and in quality, We suggest that as different branches of investigati on develop their own literature and methodology-in effect, outgrowing the g eneric label of outcomes research-they, become identified by separate, more precise terms.