title: Prevention research and its actual application to health services.
abstract: The effectiveness of alcohol abuse programs, whether to treat or to prevent, is of major importance to health services research. Demonstrating effectiveness has been appropriate to establish a sound scientific basis for these programs and to increase public acceptance. Analysis of the costs of prevention efforts in terms of their demonstrated effectiveness in reducing health services demand also is essential. In the end, health services policy deliberations are optimally based on what effect is delivered for the cost of the service, not simply on a determination of which service is the most effective. However, in a time of scarce resources prevention should be studied with the same rigor as treatment in order to determine the best return on investment.
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center, 2150 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 900, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA. holder@prev.org
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Holder
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006266:Health Education; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D011634:Public Health; D011639:Public Opinion; D017751:Safety Management; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States