Foundations of Health Services Research

This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to health services research. Health services research uses empirical studies to address challenges in the delivery and organization of health care. The book focuses on healthcare delivery (micro-level), which is embedded in institutions such as hospitals (meso-level) and healthcare systems (macro-level). The quality of the research approach determines the value of health services research to a large extent. The book, therefore, puts emphasis on research principles and research methods. The book provides an evidence-informed perspective on principles, methods and topics of health services research and uses examples of studies throughout the text. The 24 chapters are organised in four sections: Introduction to Health Services Research Principles of Health Services Research Research Methods in Health Services Research Emerging Topics in Health Services Research Foundations of Health Services Research: Principles, Methods, and Topics gives an overview of tools and strategies for learning and teaching at master and doctoral levels. It also is a useful resource for health researchers in clinical science and public health. Policy-makers and healthcare managers might also find the book helpful for their work.