Researching the People's Health

"Researching the People's Health" examines two related issues: the role of social research in the rapidly changing world of health services, and the relationship between lay and expert knowledge in public health and health care. The book examines these issues against the background of long-term transformations in patterns of health and illness and rapid changes in the strategic management and commissioning of health services. In doing so the book makes a contribution to the continuing and urgent debates on the assessment of health needs, the organization and delivery of health care, and the politics of health service organization and funding.

Researching the People's Health examines the different ways in which needs are assessed and health care is organized, prioritized and delivered in circumstances of rapid change in patterns of health and illness. The book also addresses the issue of relationships between lay and expert knowledge.

Part 1: Social Research and the National Health Service Reforms 1.Social Research and Health Policy in the Aftermath of NHS Reforms David Hunter, University of Leeds 2.The Place of Research in a Consumer-Led System of Health Care Gilbert Smith, formerly of University of Hull Jennie Popay and Gareth Williams, both of University of Salford Part 2: The Theory and Method of Needs Assessment 3. The Conceptialization and Measurement of Need: a Social Policy Perspective, Jonathan Bradshaw 4.Prioritizing the Needs with Communities: Rapid Appraisal Methodologies in Health Bie Nio Ong, University of Keele and Gerry Humphris, University of Liverpool Part 3: Public Involvement in Research on Health 5.The Power of Lay Knowledge: A Personal View Meg Stacey, University of Warwick 6.Researching the People's Health: Dilemmas and Opportunities for Social Scientists Gareth Williams and Jennie Popay, both of University of Salford 7.`It's Like Teaching Your Child to Swim in a Pool Full of Alligators': Lay Voices and Professional Research on Child Accidents Cathie Rice, Helen Roberts, Barnardo's Susan J Smith, University of Edinburgh and Carol Bryce, Health Education Board, Scotland 8.Discounted Knowledge: Local Experience, Enviromental Pollution and Health Peter Phillimore, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne and Suzanne Moffat, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Part 4: Researching Outcomes in Health and Social Care 9.Assessing Health and Social Outcomes Andrew F Long, University of Leeds 10.Health Needs Assessment, Chronic Illness and the Social Sciences Ray Fitzpatrick, Nuffield College, Oxford