What is the focus of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR)?

• A. To measure patient satisfaction with care.
• B. To develop new pharmacologic therapies.
• C. To evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare processes.
• D. To assess hospital accreditation status.

Answer: (C)

PCOR focuses on comparing healthcare options to see what works best for patients in real-world settings, with attention to outcomes that matter to patients and the overall value of care. It looks at how well an intervention achieves desired health results and how efficiently care is delivered—considering safety, quality of life, and resource use. While patient satisfaction is part of patient-centered care, PCOR’s aim is broader, evaluating the actual performance of care processes in practice. Developing new drugs or assessing hospital accreditation fall outside this focus.