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3. Uses of Evidence in Disability Outcomes and Effectiveness Research
Author(s) -
Jette Alan M.,
Keysor Julie J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the milbank quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1468-0009
pISSN - 0887-378X
DOI - 10.1111/1468-0009.t01-1-00006
Subject(s) - health care , psychology , population , health promotion , gerontology , medical model of disability , nursing , medicine , public health , political science , psychiatry , environmental health , law
P romoting the health and well‐being of all Americans—including those with disabilities—has emerged as a national priority since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) more than ten years ago. The ADA marked the first explicit national goal of achieving equal opportunity, independent living, and economic self‐sufficiency for individuals with disabilities (Americans with Disabilities Act 1989). Its passage marked a growing recognition of the needs of people with disabilities. Achieving the ADA's goals, however, requires more than simply satisfying its specific provisions; it requires the careful management of the health needs of persons with disability (Patrick 1997). People with disabilities represent an increasingly recognized target population whose health care needs can be addressed and, it is hoped, improved through health services research. Health services research aims to improve health and health care systems through research on the structure, processes, and effects of health services (Hadley 2000; Shortell 1998). Outcomes and effectiveness research is a category of health services research that gauges how well the health care needs of persons with disabilities are being met. Using Patrick's Model of Health Promotion for people with disabilities as a framework for analysis, this article examines outcomes and effectiveness research related to the health care needs of persons with disabilities. The three most pressing research priorities are clear theoretical conceptualizations and qualitative research on health outcomes relevant to the needs of persons with disabilities; a systemic analysis of existing assessment instruments' utility for disability outcomes research; and the development and testing of new outcome instruments.