Studies that Answer Your Research Questions

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Different types of studies are necessary to answer different types of research questions.  We have experience using a variety of data types, such as cross-sectional, longitudinal, patient registry, and customized databases to address research topics, including:

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• Health care resource utilization

• Cost of treatment

• Treatment patterns

• Medication adherence and persistence

• Disease incidence and prevalence

• Burden (cost) of illness

• Minimal clinically important difference

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Robust Analytical Methods

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Our data analyses are conducted using rigorous and appropriate analytical methods that stand up to peer review.  Study designs that are commonly implemented include retrospective cohort, nested case-control, and pre-post analyses.  Database analyses utilize many steps and as part of the process we:

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• Store database files on our secure server.  Data is de-identified and HIPAA compliant

• Develop detailed protocols and statistical analysis plans (SAP)

• Develop algorithms to identify specific study outcomes and events of interest

• Extract analysis population based on inclusion/exclusion and other study criteria

• Incorporate propensity scores when case-control designs are implemented to control for selection bias and confounding

• Utilize comorbidity indices (e.g., Charlson, Elixhauser) to adjust for patient comorbidity

• Apply appropriate analytical techniques to model outcomes including multi-variate regression (e.g., general linear, non-linear, mixed models), logistic, Poisson, negative binomial, etc. 

• Cox proportional hazard models along with Kaplan-Meier techniques are used to assess time to event measures (e.g., survival analyses)

• Results are delivered in the format of your choice, including:

  • technical reports​

  • slide decks

  • abstracts and presentations for professional meetings

  • peer reviewed journal articles

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Data Sources We Analyze

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We have experience in analyzing a broad array of data sources.  Below are some of the types of data we analyze, including:

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Administrative Health Care Claims Data

We have broad experience in analyzing and leveraging data from large administrative claims databases to support and enhance the value message of your product.  

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• IBM MarketScan (formerly Truven) Commercial Claims and Encounters (CCAE) databases

  • Commercial claims from third party payers​

  • Medicare supplement

  • Medicaid

• The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (oncology patient level clinical data linked to Medicare administrative claims)

• Integrated Health Care Information Solutions (IHCIS) National Managed Care Benchmark database

• Blue Health Intelligence databases (BHI)

• IQVIA Pharmetrics

• Premier Healthcare Database (PHD)

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Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO) and Health-related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) Data

We can score and analyze both disease specific and general quality of life instruments.  Common general instruments include:

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• Short Form Survey 36 item (SF-36) and 12 item (SF-12) 

  • Individual scale scores​

  • Mental Component Scores (MCS)

  • Physical Component Scores (PCS)

• Health Utilities Index (HUI)

• EuroQol (EQ-5D)

  • 3-level​ instrument

  • 5-level instrument

  • Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

• Quality of Life Scale (QOLS)

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Patient Registries and Survey Data

Patient registry and survey collected analyses have been performed in disease states such as Chrohn's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and postpartum depression. 

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