This volume provides health care professionals with a comprehensive but readable guide to the design, conduct and interpretation of health services research. It strips the research process of its technical jargon, illuminating the methods of research by an extensive use of real examples. The common pitfalls of the design and interpretation of studies are reviewed, together with guidance on how to avoid them. The result is a user-friendly text which will enable all health care professionals to carry out research with confidence and success.
Introduction to Health Services Research.
The Foundations of Research.
Developing the Research Question.
Reviewing the Literature.
Case Reports and Case Series.
Surveys.
Cohort Studies.
Clinical Trials.
Case-Control Studies.
Other Methods of Research.
Selecting the Method.
Related Disciplines.
Issues in Data Collection.
Practical Issues in the Design and Conduct of Studies.
Introduction to Data Analysis and Interpretation.
Communicating the Findings.
Index.
