Results Although highlighting a general lack of high- quality real-life effectiveness observational research on these clinical ly important topics , the analysis provided insights into how identified observational studies might inform asthma guidelines developers and clinicians .
Overall , RELEVANT appeared reliable and easy to use by expert review ers .
Conclusions Using such quality appraisal tools is m and atory to assess whether specific observational real-life effectiveness studies can be used to inform guideline development and /or decision-making in clinical practice
Abstract Introduction A Task Force was commissioned jointly by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI ) and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group ( REG ) to develop a  quality assessment tool for real-life observational research to identify high- quality real-life asthma studies that could be considered within future guideline development .
Good research practices for comparative effectiveness research: analytic methods to improve causal inference from nonrandomized studies of treatment effects using secondary data sources: the ISPOR Good Research Practices for Retrospective Database Analysis Task Force Report--Part III.
OBJECTIVES Most contemporary epidemiologic studies require complex analytical methods to adjust for bias and confounding . New methods are constantly being developed , and older more established methods are yet appropriate . Careful application of statistical analysis techniques can improve causal inference of comparative treatment effects from nonr and omized studies using secondary data bases . A Task Force was formed to offer a review of the more recent developments in statistical control of confounding . METHODS The Task Force was commissioned and a chair was selected by the ISPOR Board of Directors in October 2007 . This Report , the third in this issue of the journal , addressed methods to improve causal inference of treatment effects for nonr and omized studies . RESULTS The Task Force Report recommends general analytic techniques and specific best practice s where consensus is reached including : use of stratification analysis before multivariable modeling , multivariable regression including model performance and diagnostic testing , propensity scoring , instrumental variable , and structural modeling techniques including marginal structural models , where appropriate for secondary data . Sensitivity analyses and discussion of extent of residual confounding are discussed . CONCLUSIONS Valid findings of causal therapeutic benefits can be produced from nonr and omized studies using an array of state-of-the-art analytic techniques . Improving the quality and uniformity of these studies will improve the value to patients , physicians , and policymakers worldwide
Results Although highlighting a general lack of high- quality real-life effectiveness observational research on these clinical ly important topics , the analysis provided insights into how identified observational studies might inform asthma guidelines developers and clinicians .
Overall , RELEVANT appeared reliable and easy to use by expert review ers .
Conclusions Using such quality appraisal tools is m and atory to assess whether specific observational real-life effectiveness studies can be used to inform guideline development and /or decision-making in clinical practice
Abstract Introduction A Task Force was commissioned jointly by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology ( EAACI ) and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group ( REG ) to develop a  quality assessment tool for real-life observational research to identify high- quality real-life asthma studies that could be considered within future guideline development .