Assessing the Impact of Research Becker Medical Library Washington University School of Medicine
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Community Benefit

(Note that this section is a work in progress and is subject to change.)

Community Benefit is the enhancement of community health outcomes as a result of research outputs. Did the research study findings result in enhancement of quality of life? Did the research study findings produce a clinically effective intervention for a disease, condition or disorder? Did the research study findings result in increased performance, quality, and consistency in the delivery of health care services?

Establishing a direct correlation between research study findings and community benefit outcomes is difficult at best. Some reasons include the time lag between study findings and measurable community outcomes that can be directly traced to the research study, variable standards of care, lack of consensus among organizations and health care providers, to name a few.

Some preliminary, broad indicators of community benefit that can be quantified and documented include:

  • Economic Outcomes
  • Health Care Outcomes
  • Quality of Life

Economic Outcomes

Economics is defined by the National Library of Medicine as the science of utilization, distribution, and consumption of services and materials.

Evidence of Community Benefit
  • Research study findings result in a cost-effective intervention for a disease, condition or disorder
  • Research study findings result in enhancement of existing resources and expertise
  • Research study findings result in increased performance, quality, and consistency in the delivery of health care services

Health Care Outcomes

Outcomes assessment for health care is defined by the National Library of Medicine as evaluation undertaken to assess the quality and effectiveness of health care as measured by the attainment of a specified end result or outcome. Measures include parameters such as improved health, lowered morbidity or mortality, and improvement of abnormal states.

Evidence of Community Benefit Research study findings result in clinically effective approach in the management and treatment of a disease, condition, or disorder.

Quality of Life

Quality of life is a broad term that is defined by the National Library of Medicine as a generic concept reflecting concern with the modification and enhancement of life attributes, e.g., physical, political, moral and social environment; the overall condition of a human life.

Evidence of Community Benefit Research study findings leads to enhancement of well-being among community members.

 

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Last updated: April 27, 2009