health services research quiz 1

factors contributing to increased demand for HSR

expanded role of federal government in healthcare, rise of healthcare spending, drive towards quality + outcomes, need to demonstrate the value of healthcare

population level

HSR focuses on ____ health: how is everyone affected by an illness, treatment, quality of treatment, cost, etc.

clinical trial results may look different in DC than Mississippi because age/demographics/ lifestyles/etc. are different

why is a randomized control trial essential for generalization?

empirical evidence

the only means by which scientists can corroborate, modify, and construct scientific theories

antecedent (confounding) variable

creates a spurious relationship between X and Y (can be eliminated through a control)

intervening variable

can explain some part of the relationship between X and Y (Z variable), where you live, secondhand smoke, age, family history etc.

exploratory research

form of research conducted when there is little knowledge on the relationships between variables

descriptive research

conducted to explain a well-defined phenomenon with detailed numerical descriptions

explanatory research

analytic/causal research that uses experimentation

narrow topic, identify related theories, identify and control relevant variables, suggest pertinent research design, procedures, and analysis

what is the point of a literature review?

need to demonstrate value of healthcare services

identify best practices, develop clinical guidelines, demonstrate cost-effectiveness, explain variations in practice, greater financial pressure

measured and observable

empiricism limits researchers to data that is

conceptualization

process of specifying and refining abstract concepts into concrete terms

conceptual frameworks

preliminary model of the problem, identifies relationships between critical variables, symmetric antecedent or intervening, should be based on literature

nominal definition

working definition for a project; captures major dimensions as agreed upon by scientific community

operational definition

specifies unique method of observation; indicates specific variables to be observed, and how theses are to be interpreted

groundwork

data sources, funding, research proposal

health measures, unit of analysis (individual, patient, ward, hospital, etc.), sample size matters

factors that determine which data set to use

private funding sources

Ford Foundation, Pew Charitable Trust, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Lilly Endowment

public funding sources

NIH, National Science Foundation, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, CMS