ABSTRACT
Health is substantially affected by circumstances beyond biology, including socioeconomic status; attributes of social, economic, and physical environments; and aspects of culture such as religion, language, and relational patterns. Together, these and other nonbiological factors represent social determinants of health. In this chapter, the authors use this conceptual framework to connect health policy and health services research. Health policies are the collective activities and intents of federal, state, and local governments to create conditions in which individuals and populations may achieve specific health-related goals. Health services research examines the costs, quality, and effectiveness of health care, in contexts with social determinants and health system inputs that include financing, technology, and organizing structures, principles, and practices. In addition to providing definitions and an overview of health, health policy, and health services research, this chapter examines how these concepts contribute to the identification, study, and improvement of health outcomes.
