title: An integrative framework for health-related research.
abstract: Research on the manifold aspects of health and health-care delivery, economics and administration has expanded rapidly in recent years and now engages a number of disciplines. The array of theories, methods, and analytical strategies derived from such diverse sources frequently impedes effective communication between investigators and sometimes renders it impossible. We propose a conceptual framework that encompasses all health-related research and demonstrates the relationships and interfaces between the various disciplines involved. The framework emerges from a classification of health-related research into studies of health states or health interventions followed by consideration of the level of analysis (e.g. cell, individual, community) employed and the purpose of each study (development, description, explanation, or evaluation).
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Battista
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Contandriopoulos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Champagne
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pineault
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans