Toward a Framework for Health Service Research

Abstract

Fiscal concerns have provided the impetus for wide-ranging attempts to reform the delivery of health care in Canada. Health reform has in turn stimulated great interest and activity in health service research. For health service research to be of maximum use in addressing current and future challenges to the health care system, closer liaison is needed between researchers and decision makers--the users of research. The purpose of this paper is to promote greater interaction between decision makers and researchers by proposing a framework for health predicated on types of information needed for decision-making rather than on study methodologies. We distinguish between decision makers at the societal, health system, program and service levels. Types of studies are classified by their purpose and by the phase of the management cycle for which they provide information for decision-making.

The process of change related to health policy shift: reforming a health care system

“…Donabedian, 1980), and health policy (e.g. Mhatre and Deber, 1992;Milio, 1986Milio, , 1987Milio, , 1988Saunders and Wanke, 1996;Siler-Wells, 1987;. The choice of frameworks can dramatically influence the way that causal relationships are identified and explained and the way societal relationships operate.…”

Program evaluation for prevention projects.

“…Third, evaluation research is becoming a more popular tool among managers for decision making.7 8 Results can assist in policy formation and resource allocation and can also be a critical component to assist in advocacy efforts for healthy public policy and program funding.…”