Why Outcomes Matter?

Canadian Outcomes Matter is more than just a conference title – it’s a call to action. At the heart of this event is a shared commitment to understanding, measuring, and improving the outcomes that matter most to patients, caregivers, clinicians, and health systems. In an era where data is abundant but meaning can be elusive, outcomes research helps ground decision-making in what people truly experience, value, and need.

We believe that health outcomes are not just endpoints; they are starting points for delivering better care, greater equity, and more effective policy.

What Do We Mean by “Outcomes”?

Health outcomes research focuses on the real-world impact of care on people’s lives, including their symptoms, functioning, well-being, and experiences with the healthcare system. Two key pillars guide much of the work at this conference:

  • PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures) capture how people feel and function — directly from the patient, without interpretation.
  • PREMs (Patient-Reported Experience Measures) reflect how people experience care, from communication and respect to timeliness and access.

These measures help us shift from “Did we do it?” to “Did it make a difference?”

Why Outcomes Matter Now

From aging populations and chronic illness to new digital tools and equity challenges, health systems are being asked to do more and to prove that it matters. As we face complex questions around resource use, patient-centred care, and technological integration, outcomes research provides a crucial lens for navigating forward.

It also reminds us that health is a personal matter. When we measure what matters to patients, we open the door to more responsive, inclusive, and effective care.

Theme in Action

The 2025 conference theme, Outcomes Matter, challenges us to think beyond data collection and toward impact. What we choose to measure, how we measure it, and how we use the results shape everything from clinical care to national health policy.

Whether you’re working in measurement science, qualitative methods, systems transformation, or AI, you’re part of a bigger picture: one where outcomes research helps drive health care that is effective, equitable, and centred on people.

We believe that health outcomes are not just endpoints; they are starting points for delivering better care, greater equity, and more effective policy.

Conference Topics

Our sessions reflect the evolving landscape of outcomes research. Submissions and presentations at Canadian Outcomes Matter span these seven interconnected areas:

Research focused on the development, validation, or application of outcome measures reported directly by patients.

Studies that capture and analyze patient experiences with care to inform service improvement and patient-centered design.

Exploring how artificial intelligence and machine learning can enhance health outcomes measurement, prediction, or delivery.

Investigating changes in internal standards, values, or conceptualizations that affect how patients report their health or experiences over time.

Qualitative research offering rich, contextual insights into patient experiences, care processes, or health outcomes.

Work focused on developing new tools, frameworks, or conceptual models to advance health outcomes research.

Innovative research that doesn’t fit traditional categories but contributes meaningfully to the field of health outcomes.