• Definition: The application of scientific methods of investigation to the study of complex human organizations and services
– A mathematician working on atomic structure is pursuing pure research
– An engineer designing a new plant for an industry is pursuing applied research.
• In operational research there is a huge sociology component
– Here one is concerned with groups of people and
– the purpose is to develop and introduce beneficial changes in to the system
• When this is done in the area of health services, it is k/a ‘Health operational research’
• “research into strategies, interventions, or knowledge that can enhance the quality, coverage, effectiveness or performance of the health system or programme in the population in which the research is being conducted”
• Operational research is different from clinical or epidemiological research in that it examines a system (in this case the health care system) rather than focusing on an individual or a group of individuals (as in clinical or epidemiological research)
• The intention of operational research is improvement of a system (the health care system).
• The importance of operational research is its ability to address and solve local problems in delivering quality health services.
Phases in Operational Research
1. Formulation of the problem (identify challenges in the system)
2. Collection of relevant data (usually on a sample)
3. Analysis of data and formulation of hypothesis
4. Deriving solutions from the hypothesis or ‘model’
5. Choosing the optimal solution and forecasting results
6. Testing of solution e.g. pilot projects
7. Implementing the solution in the whole system
• The point is to identify the obstacles to providing high quality services, analyze why these obstacles occur and to adopt policies and practices to overcome them so as to achieve optimal utilization of resources in the service of the community
Operational research team
– Operational Research is a team job
The minimum composition in social medicine applications is:
1. Public health administrator
2. An epidemiologist
3. A statistician and
4. A social scientist
6. This is in addition to ancillary worker such as clerks, peons, and field workers
– The team is headed by a director
Operational research in health services
• Examples
– Optimal size of area and population to be covered by a midwife or health unit
– Ideal vehicle for local health workers
– Leaving maximum time for technical personnel to utilize their skills
– Architectural design of hospitals and health centers
– Queuing problems in OPD
– Effectiveness of a program e.g. family planning
– Investigation of outbreaks
References:
• Park’s Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine; 23rd ed.
• Operational Research to Improve Health Services, A guide for proposal development, 2013. ISBN 978-0-620-57795-3; Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
acculturation: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/acculturation
Social security: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/social-security
Operational research: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/operational-research
Gross National Income (GNI) and Purchasing Power Parity (PPP): http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/gross-national-income-gni-and-purchasing-po...
Global Hunger Index (GHI: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/global-hunger-index-ghi
Hidden Hunger: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/hidden-hunger
International Health Regulations 2005: http://www.ihatepsm.com/blog/international-health-regulations-ihr