Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered superior to observational studies, and both clinicians and researchers believe that conclusions that stem from observational research are flawed.

Comparative effectiveness research increasingly is being recognized as a priority area in cancer research. Although researchers have been conducting comparative effectiveness research for decades, ...

• The choice between an observational study and a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is not binary. • No algorithm exists for determining whether an observational study or an RCT is best for answering ...

The goal of comparative effectiveness research is to inform clinical decisions between alternate treatment strategies using data that reflect real patient populations and real-world clinical scenarios ...