Members of the THETA Clinical Research Division have considerable experience with the design and implementation of provincial, national and international experimental and observational studies and registries. We have extensive methodological and infrastructure support for items such as database architecture and management and statistical support.

THETA has gained unique experience in conducting trials in the community and in the long-term care and home care settings in which it is extremely difficult to perform clinical research. Furthermore, THETA has substantial experience with the design, implementation and evaluation of complex health interventions using a mixed-methods approach. While for policy decisions, it is critical to know whether an intervention works; with complex health interventions, it is essential to also understand why something works (or fails to work). Using an overarching complex interventions methodological framework, the need for a range of studies becomes clearer, including qualitative and observational research designs.

The division specializes in and has published in the areas of:

  • Experimental studies:
    • Randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
    • Pragmatic randomized trials
    • Stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials
  • Observational studies (longitudinal cohort studies)
  • Registries
  • Complex health interventions
  • Program evaluations

Members of Clinical Research Division possess a broad range of methodological expertise and practical experience including: pragmatic trials, evaluation of complex interventions and large provincial, national and international programs including effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, patient and provider preferences, and feasibility of implementation and scalability applying mixed method approach. We have extensive methodological and infrastructure support for items such as database architecture and management and statistical guidance.

New technologies and drugs are reaching the market at an astounding rate, creating extreme pressures within our publicly-funded health system. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care relies on the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (OHTAC) and its Medical Advisory Secretariat (MAS) to provide evidence-based policy advice on the adoption of new health technologies THETA provides health policy analysts at MAS with a wide variety of methodological and technical support, including: field evaluations, comprehensive evidence synthesis and economic evaluation. Technical support is provided in complex decision modeling, Bayesian methods, utility assessment, and the use of administrative data for health technology assessment.