The learning objectives for the program in Health Services Research and Policy will be met through required and elective coursework, independent research, and the process of writing a dissertation. Learning objectives and requirements from the Department of Health Policy and Management are listed below, along with the learning objectives for the health services research and policy program. Health Services Research and Policy-specific Learning Objectives: Demonstrate knowledge of the organization and financing of healthcare services and their public health impact: - Describe and critique the current financing and organization of healthcare services in the US and understand ongoing trends;
- Describe and critique the theoretical and conceptual models relevant to healthcare-seeking, access, use, quality, cost, health, health policy and healthcare decision-making;
- Describe the US system for health-care organization and finance in contrast to those in other major developed nations.
Demonstrate knowledge of the issues, research literature, conceptual frameworks and research tools in one or more content domains within the field of health services research and policy: - Develop a high level content expertise in one or more sub-areas within a broader field of health services delivery, finance, and organization concordant with the student’s area of concentration within HSR&P, the focus of their thesis and their interests
Department-wide PhD Learning Objectives: Demonstrate knowledge of the development and implementation of health policy:
- Identify and discuss the major public health problems in the US and provide examples of how health and health care policies have effectively reduced these health problems;
- Identify conceptual models linking the social, economic, and political context to population health and health care policy formation;
- Describe the process of constructing policy alternatives and selection of policy from among different options;
- Identify the role that various government agencies and bodies play in the formation and implementation of policy, and the role of law and regulation.
Design and conduct research from the initial conception of an idea to study design, data collection, selection and application of appropriate analytic methods, interpretation of results, publication of findings and translation into programs and policies:
- Pose innovative and unique research questions, informed by structured reviews of the literature and relevant theoretical and conceptual models; formulate testable hypotheses to address these questions;
- Develop appropriate experimental, quasi-experimental, and observational study designs relative to the requirement of given HSR&P research and evaluation contexts;
- Develop and implement research protocols that ensure adherence to ethical standards; prepare an application for IRB approval;
- Obtain appropriate data sources that can be used to validly measure and operationalize the study constructs necessary for testing specific hypotheses;
- Analyze data using appropriate advanced epidemiological, statistical, economic, or qualitative research techniques.
Communicate scientific findings through written and oral methods to technical and lay audiences: - Communicate research findings in oral and written form; place research findings in the context of current knowledge; identify limitations and further areas for research; discuss policy implications and the public health significance of findings;
- Write manuscripts of publishable quality for the peer reviewed literature that describe and explain research findings;
- Teach introductory materials in the students’ general area of expertise
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