There is increasing recognition that advances in medicine are only part of the answer to better health care. These advances, together with rising expectations of health care users, mean that demands on the way we organize and deliver services will become greater. It is therefore essential that we advance our understanding and knowledge of how best to organize and deliver health services. This book, written by experienced teachers and researchers, introduces research methods from a wide range of social science disciplines and applies them to health service research. Each chapter takes a...

Research into the delivery and organisation of health care is a vital component in the improvement of health services. A wide range of disciplines and methods needs to be deployed to address research questions in this field. This unique Reader brings together thirty examples of high-quality SDO research using a range of disciplines, including organisational studies, epidemiology, sociology, history, health economics, anthropology and policy studies, illustrating the use of qualitative and quantitative approaches and primary and secondary research. Expert editorial commentary highlights...