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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Stephen Soumerai, ScD, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care., Harvard Medical School, 126 Brookline Ave., Suite 200, Boston, MA 02215, (617) 421-6089, stephen_soumerai@hms.harvard.edu

Although randomized controlled trials produce the most valid estimates of the outcomes of health services and policies, strong quasi-experimental designs (e.g., interrupted time series) are rigorous and feasible alternative methods, especially for evaluating sudden changes in health policies occurring in large populations. Dr. Soumerai will provide case examples of the application of such designs in studies of the unintended impacts of statewide pharmaceutical cost containment policies on the quality and outcomes of care, and demonstrate how the studies influenced state and national health policies, including the Medicare drug benefit.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss strengths and weaknesses to alternatives to randomized controlled trials
• Understand the particular strengths of interuppted time series trail design
• Learn how various trial design can and have impacted on public policy evaluation and implementation.

Keywords: Quality, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation