Assessment Of Evaluation Of Health And Medical Care

A comprehensive methods text describing the variety of approaches available in the assessment and evaluation of health and medical care.

This handbook is designed to meet the needs of the growing number of health professionals who are engaged in processes of evaluation in a variety of contexts within the world of healthcare.

As the costs and resources of delivering health services have increased over the years, the importance of evaluating health services and interventions has become essential. An evaluation provides a systematic process of assessing the efficacy and efficiency of health services, including an assessment of their impact on beneficiaries, whether it be individuals or communities. Evaluation in the health sector includes the evaluation of burden disease where human and economic costs resulting from poor health are measured.In this book, various evaluation studies are detailed, providing an excellent resource for both evaluation practitioners and academics alike. The geographical range and variety of case studies showcase how evaluation has become integral for health service planning and assessment and to assist public health policy makers decide how to use limited resources to minimize burden and inequity. This book will act as a ready resource for both workers experienced in health service evaluation and those intending to learn about burden of disease of evaluation.

This book discusses that while no nation can afford to provide all the health care that its population wants. Countries can, however, ensure they obtain the greatest benefit from those resources available for health care. It analyses health care interventions, from specific treatments to whole delivery systems, in terms of Effectiveness, Efficiency, Humanity and Equity.

A comprehensive methods text describing the variety of approaches available in the assessment and evaluation of health and medical care. The text not only describes the principles of randomized controlled trials, case control studies, cohort studies and social surveys but also the value of qualitative methods in gaining an understanding of healthcare. Chapters are also included on the principles and problems of measuring outcomes in terms of patient satisfaction and quality of life, and assessing the economic value of treatments. The specific methodological problems of screening are discussed, and a final chapter outlines the issues surrounding meta-analysis and systematic reviews.

This highly successful textbook is now in its fourth edition, and has been extensively updated in order to keep pace with the considerable advances in theory and practice in recent years.

This book introduces students to the care process and supports the development of the knowledge and skills needed to provide effective and efficient care for patients and clients.