Clinical effectiveness in the UK: Definitions, history and policy trends

Abstract

In the last 5 years there has been a huge increase in interest in clinical effectiveness. Clinical effectiveness is often used loosely to describe health care that is based on scientific evidence, but properly refers to population based approaches to quality improvement involving facilitation of evidence-based and cost effective practice. It overlaps with evidence-based medicine, which is individually and clinically based. The history of development of clinical effectiveness in the UK is reviewed, including the significant NHS policy initiatives of the last decade. Key components of clinical effectiveness programs are methods to inform clinicians of research evidence as to the effectiveness of interventions, methods to encourage practitioners to use this information to change practice, and methods to monitor changes to practice and clinical outcomes. The minimum requirements to use clinical effectiveness as an approach to quality improvement in mental health and psychotherapy are outlined.

Clinical effectiveness in everyday practice: improving outcomes for all patients through a national acute coronary syndrome data collaborative

“…6 In the contemporary management of ACS, the real challenge lies in the effective and consistent translation of evidence to practice, seeking equitable outcomes for all Australians: the concept of clinical effectiveness. 7 We propose an operational model underpinned by the establishment of a national ACS registry to improve clinical effectiveness delivery in Australia.…”

“…Australian efforts to document ACS management have sought to reflect ‘usual care’ and measure clinically relevant outcomes, but lack both the infrastructure and resources to continue as sustainable registries and the detail on system factors that enable institutions to assess effective healthcare delivery 6 . In the contemporary management of ACS, the real challenge lies in the effective and consistent translation of evidence to practice, seeking equitable outcomes for all Australians: the concept of clinical effectiveness 7 . We propose an operational model underpinned by the establishment of a national ACS registry to improve clinical effectiveness delivery in Australia.…”