Duke University and Health Economics Research, Inc.

Evidence-based Practice Center


Profile

The Duke University Center for Clinical Health Policy Research (CCHPR) focuses on:

With respect to evaluating evidence, CCHPR faculty led investigations into diagnostic testing for carotid artery stenosis; efficacy of antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents for stroke prevention; evaluation of history and physical exam for diagnosis of acute headache; and efficacy of drug, behavioral, and physical treatments for migraine and tension-type headache. CCHPR faculty also evaluated current clinical practice using survey methods and medical record abstraction in the areas of stroke prevention (carotid endarterectomy and anticoagulation). Currently, CCHPR is coordinating a pragmatic intervention trial of organized anticoagulation management services to deliver warfarn anticoagulation for stroke prevention: the Managing Anticoagulation Services Trial (MAST).

Health Economics Research, Inc. (HER) is a collaborating partner in the Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC), bringing strength in examining claims databases for information on cost, utilization, and practice variation. HER has experience on the Stroke Rehabilitation Clinical Practice Guideline (supported by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research), and it collaborated with CCHPR on the Stroke Prevention Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT).

Capabilities

The core EPC staff from Duke University and HER have expertise in a full range of activities which includes epidemiology, biostatistics, meta-analysis, decision analysis, cost and cost-effectiveness analysis, economic analysis, health services research, health policy analysis, technical or scientific writing and editing, and in designing and conducting literature searches.

The EPC team is particularly strong in methodological areas, and many individual members are clinically active and have special areas of clinical expertise. The Co-Directors of the Evidence-based Practice Center, Drs. David B. Matchar and Douglas C. McCrory, are both board-certified internists practicing general internal medicine, with a broad clinical knowledge of adult health.

The current list of core EPC faculty and their areas of expertise and interests follows:

Paul Abrahamse, M.A., Duke, research assistant; Stuart Cohen, Ed.D., Wake Forest University, guideline implementation; Santanu Datta, M.S., Duke, health economics; Ruth E. Goslin, MAT, Duke, medical writing and editing; Rebecca N. Gray, D.Phil., Duke, research management, writing and editing; Victor Hasselblad, Ph.D., Duke, use of meta-analysis in support of clinical guidelines; Jane T. Kolimaga, M.A., Duke, research management; David Lobach, M.D., Ph.D., M.S., Duke, medical informatics; David B. Matchar, M.D., Co-Director, Duke, consensus development methods measurement of appropriateness of care and physician opinion decision analysis cost-effectiveness analysis; Douglas McCrory, M.D., Co-Director Duke,, literature review meta-analysis guideline development; Janet Mitchell, Ph.D.,HER, health economics, in particular, cost and health policy analysis related to clinical guidelines and health programs.

Collaboration

In addition to the CCHPR and HER core faculty, formal relationships exist with senior faculty throughout Duke University's Medical Center and academic departments to facilitate the timely availability of clinical and research personnel. The expertise of this "extended faculty" includes adult health, geriatrics, preventive medicine, women's health, mental health, and substance abuse.

For the first EPC evaluation of abnormal cervical cytology, additional collaborators providing clinical expertise are:

Lori Bastian, M.D., M.P.H., Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center, and the Duke Department of General Internal Medicine; Evan Myers, M.D., M.P.H., Duke Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Kavita Nanda, M.D., Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Additional Information

Access information about the Duke University EPC at:
http://www.clinpol.mc.duke.edu

Or contact:

Co-Directors:

David B. Matchar, M.D.
E-mail: match001@mc.duke.edu

Douglas McCrory. M.D.
E-mail: mccro002@mc.duke.edu

Duke Center for Clinical Health Policy Research
Duke University Medical Center
2200 West Main Street, Suite 230
Durham, NC 27705
Phone: (919) 286-3399
Fax: (919) 286-5601

Health Economics Research, Inc.
300 Fifth Avenue, 6th floor
Waltham, MA 02154
Phone: (617) 487-0200
Fax: (617) 487-0202


Internet Citation:

Duke University and Health Economics Research, Inc., Evidence-based Practice Center. Profile, September 1998. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epc/dukeepc.htm


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