CUE is a consumer advocate-scientist partnership, whose 47 current member organizations represent: cancer, geriatrics, temporomandibular joint disorders, minority health, addiction, environmental health, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health, mental health, women’s health, and disabilities. CUE is committed to a representative membership that addresses the needs of Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) priority populations. As a result, CUE is an educated, diverse, and committed advocacy network.

Initial funding from AHRQ has enabled the USCC to nurture CUE’s development and to provide a secretariat and staff. CUE is guided by an elected Steering Committee providing overall direction and policy and program development.

The USCC provides training on EBHC; coordinates CUE projects; and has organized and facilitated annual CUE meetings. As the scientific partner to CUE, the USCC provides a part-time Consumer Coordinator to manage CUE’s activities. USCC staff members are a resource for CUE and collaborate with CUE to help it define and implement its goals.

CUE members are encouraged to join the Cochrane Consumer Network (CCNet) and participate in Cochrane as authors, consumer reviewers, and referees of Cochrane reviews.

Why is CUE important?

Consumers are key stakeholders in health and healthcare decision making. Consumers help to:

Consumers need access to high quality health information and critical appraisal tools. Consumers are bombarded with healthcare information from the print media, TV, radio, Internet and their healthcare providers. Interpreting the accuracy and validity of information is often difficult, as reports can be conflicting and evidence may seem to change over time. Consumers and consumer advocates need the tools to interpret, analyze, and understand this influx of information.

United by a common interest in integrating understanding and interpretation of EBHC into their advocacy activities, CUE member-organizations work to strengthen the voice of consumers and provide leadership in healthcare research.