Health Outcomes

Abstract

Health outcomes refer to the health consequences brought about by the treatment of a health condition or as a result of an interaction with the healthcare system. It is a multidimensional concept that can be studied on multiple levels. Description Conceptual and Measurement Issues Health is a broad concept, defined by the World Health Organization as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1946). Accordingly, health outcomes encompass a wide range of health-related consequences of healthcare interventions and healthcare programs. The New South Wales Health Department in Australia defined health outcomes as “change in the health of an individual, group of people or population which is attributable to an intervention or series of interventions” (Frommer, Rubin, & Lyle, 1992), highlighting “change in health status” as the focus of an ...