ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the various types of research regarding today's health care, such as, biomedical, clinical, disciplinary, health services, and public health. It explains double-blind studies and cohort studies. The chapter describes the goal of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It also explains the role of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). It then identifies how comparative effectiveness research improves health care treatment choices. The study and analysis of disease patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in defined populations is called epidemiology. It is focused on human health and factors that affect health or cause diseases and injuries. Patient satisfaction is very important as part of quality of care. Patients list many things that satisfy or do not satisfy them concerning health care, including interpersonal and technical skills of providers, appointment waiting times, responses to emergencies, staff members' helpfulness and communication, and pleasing appearances of facilities.
