Outcomes research in gastroenterology and endoscopy.

Although the field of outcomes research has received increased attention in recent years, there is still considerable uncertainty and confusion about what is "outcomes research". The following editorial is designed to provide an overview on this topic, illustrate specific examples of outcomes research in clinical gastroenterology and endoscopy, and discuss its importance as a whole. In this article, we review the definition and specific goals of outcomes research. We outline the difference between traditional clinical research and outcomes research and discuss the benefits and limitations of outcomes research. We summarize the types of outcomes studies and methods utilized for outcomes assessment, and give specific examples of the impact of outcomes studies in the field of gastroenterology and endoscopy.