Public perceptions of comparative effectiveness research and use of evidence in healthcare decision-making.

Aims: This study elaborates on the public's understanding of comparative effectiveness research (CER) or patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR), attitudes toward CER/PCOR and use of evidence in healthcare decision-making.

Materials & Methods: We conducted six focus groups with the general public - three with individuals actively engaged in healthcare decision-making and three with individuals more passive in their approach.

Results: The general public has little knowledge of CER/PCOR, and its perceptions of certain CER/PCOR concepts are inconsistent with those of researchers and policy-makers.

Staffing patterns of primary care practices in the comprehensive primary care initiative.

Purpose: Despite growing calls for team-based care, the current staff composition of primary care practices is unknown. We describe staffing patterns for primary care practices in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) initiative.

Methods: We undertook a descriptive analysis of CPC initiative practices' baseline staffing using data from initial applications and a practice survey.