The Conceptualization and Measurement of Health for Policy Relevant Research in Medical Care Delivery,
Abstract
This paper discusses several issues regarding health status assessment for purposes of evaluation of medical care delivery. The issues include: 1) reasons for health status assessment, 2) the nature and number of health concepts that can be measured, and 3) some of the implications of various measurement strategies. The Health Insurance Study (HIS), which the Rand Corporation is conducting for the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, is offered as an example of a soical experiment in which the measurement of health will aid in policy decisions about how medical care should be delivered. Solutions to the problems of health status assessment for purposes of the HIS are offered as examples that may have general applicablity. It is argued that: 1) the use of health care services, which in the past has been treated as and outcome measure, is not sufficient, i.e., more use doesn't imply better care; 2) an omnibus approach to the conceptualization and measurement of health status is require; 3) differences between disadvantaged and nondisadvantaged groups with respect to the reliability and validity of scores computed from survey measures of health must be kept in mind; and 4) self-ratings of health should be given greater emphasis in evaluating medical care. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA032094
Entities
People
- John E. Ware Jr.
Organizations
- RAND Corporation