Abstract

NOVAES, Hillegonda Maria Dutilh. Research in, about, and for health services: an international overview and questions for health research in Brazil. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 2004, vol.20, suppl.2, pp. S147-S157. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2004000800002.

Health systems and services are important determinants of health conditions and quality of life. Health services research is a multidisciplinary area aimed at deepening and widening knowledge on the area in specific contexts and focusing on system accessibility, impact, and performance and conditions and quality of health care in order to contribute to decisions by policy-makers, managers, and health professionals. This article analyzes the main characteristics and trends in recent output in the international literature and discusses several key questions for health services research in Brazil.

Keywords : Health Services; Health Services Research; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation.