Outcomes research: what it is and what it isn't.

This paper introduces a new series in the Journal that will address Outcomes Research and Pharmacoeconomics in Pain & Palliative Care. The goal of the series is to provide an overview of the field of outcomes research that will be geared to clinicians, and to review the outcomes literature in the area of Pain and Palliative Care. This paper defines the common types of outcomes research that are relevant to pain and symptom control. There are a lot of misconceptions about the field including some who look at outcomes research as not really science and not adding to our knowledge about drugs and drug use. To the contrary, outcomes research is a powerful tool, but like many others it has limitations and it is important to understand both what outcomes research is, and what it isn't.