Employees are turning more to their employers and health plans for medical and health-related information, according to a nationwide survey that the National Business Group on Health released Tuesday.
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Employees also say they are somewhat familiar with â??comparative effectiveness research,â? the science that compares the clinical effectiveness of various health care interventions to determine which course of treatment works the best.

Employers are looking for ways to incorporate comparative effectiveness research into their health benefit design to ensure that employees are receiving safe, appropriate and cost-effective care, said Helen Darling, president of the Washington-based NBGH.

Funding for comparative effectiveness research also is included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The NBGH survey found that 75% of employees used their employer as a resource for medical and health information in 2010, a significant increase from 54% in 2007, the last time this survey was conducted. In addition, 69% of respondents rated their employers as completely, very, or moderately trustworthy sources of such health information.