Why Studies That Compare Treatments Lack Impact

New York Times,  Doctor and Patient, November 8, 2012, By PAULINE W. CHEN, M.D.   “Comparative effectiveness” studies, which compare one treatment for a particular illness against another to determine which works better, have received a lot of attention and billions of dollars in federal support in the last few years. But when I mentioned comparative effectiveness research recently to a colleague who I know is particularly interested in treatments and the clinical trials behind them, he let out a loud snort and guffaw before I even finished saying the words.  Read more