Visit the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ( and after reading their “An Organizational Guide to Building Health Services Research Capacity”, discuss the following:
- Using AHRQ’s definition, what is health services research used for? How can health services research affect policy?
- Then, refer to pages 34-40 in your text and describe the process of health services research. What topic in HSR would you choose to research? What problems in health services would you like to solve?
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Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Health services research is an important area of study that focuses on improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of healthcare delivery. In this assignment, we will discuss the purpose and impact of health services research according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). We will also examine the process of health services research and identify potential topics for research and solutions to problems in health services.
1. Using AHRQ’s definition, what is health services research used for? How can health services research affect policy?
According to AHRQ, health services research is used to “inform policy and clinical decision-making, and to identify gaps in evidence-based knowledge.” Essentially, this type of research focuses on identifying the most effective ways to deliver healthcare services to patients, while also identifying areas in which improvements can be made. Health services research can affect policy by providing evidence-based recommendations that policymakers can use to make informed decisions about healthcare delivery, resource allocation, and funding priorities.
2. Then, refer to pages 34-40 in your text and describe the process of health services research. What topic in HSR would you choose to research? What problems in health services would you like to solve?
The process of health services research typically involves four main stages: identifying research questions, designing the study, collecting and analyzing data, and disseminating findings. Throughout this process, researchers must consider ethical concerns, use appropriate research methods, and ensure that their findings are applicable to real-world healthcare settings.
As for a potential topic for health services research, I would be interested in exploring ways to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs in the treatment of chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. One problem in health services that I would like to solve is the high rate of medication non-adherence among patients with chronic conditions, which often leads to complications and higher healthcare costs. By researching and identifying effective strategies for improving medication adherence, we can help patients better manage their conditions and reduce the overall burden on the healthcare system.
