Louis G. Pol – författare

"Health demography" has come to play an increasingly important role within the larger field since 1980; the number of health professionals who utilize its methods and materials has grown exponentially. In a revision of the first edition of this text and reference, published by Plenum in 1992, the authors convey the general principles that underlie this applied subdiscipline and demonstrate how the merging of demography and health care impacts on the planning processes of a range of health-care organizations.

"Health demography" has come to play an increasingly important role within the larger field during the past twenty years; the number of health professionals who utilize its methods and materials has grown exponentially. In a thoroughgoing revision of the first edition of this classic text and reference, published by Plenum in 1992, the authors convey the general principles that underlie this applied subdiscipline and demonstrate how the merging of demography and health care impacts on the planning processes of a range of health care organizations.

The 1980s witnessed the emergence of an applied subdiscipline within de­ mography that is coming to be termed health demography. As yet there is no distinct body of research formally categorized under this heading, nor are there professionals who bear the title of health demographer. In fact, most of those involved with health demography are not demographers but sociologists, economists, epidemiologists, and others who are applying concepts and tech­ niques from demography to concrete problems in the delivery of health care. Nevertheless, the vague boundaries of this subdiscipline are becoming in­ creasingly visible, and the 1990s promise to be the era of health demography. Many factors have contributed to the emergence of this new field. The transition the health care industry underwent during the 1980s served to modify dramatically the mindset of those in health care from one based on a philanthropic orientation to a highly competitive business orientation. Al­ most overnight the industry became market driven and consumer oriented, resulting in an explosion in the demand for both demographic data and health statistics. The need to integrate and interpret data from these two fields has provided a major impetus for the development of health demography. At the same time, the redefining of health and illness along lines more in keeping with a social than a clinical perspective, and the reconceptualization of etiology within a lifestyles framework, have further emphasized the need for health demography.

In this 3rd edition of the definitive work on health demography, Pol and Thomas offer an updated view of the field and a current perspective on the applications of health demography to contemporary issues.  The significance of health demography within the field of population studies has continued to increase and this work provides background on the healthcare arena and systematically presents the various aspects of demography as they relate to healthcare.  This addition has been streamlined to focus on the important aspects of health demography and enhanced through the addition of charts, maps and other graphics.  All statistics and tables have been updated and the most current references are included.  A separate chapter on morbidity has been included and the final chapter focuses on the public policy interface with health demography.  Case studies and sidebars are included throughout the book to illustrate the applications of demography within the healthcare arena.  Recent developments in U.S. healthcare are highlighted to give the text a very contemporary presence.

In this 3rd edition of the definitive work on health demography, Pol and Thomas offer an updated view of the field and a current perspective on the applications of health demography to contemporary issues.  The significance of health demography within the field of population studies has continued to increase and this work provides background on the healthcare arena and systematically presents the various aspects of demography as they relate to healthcare.  This addition has been streamlined to focus on the important aspects of health demography and enhanced through the addition of charts, maps and other graphics.  All statistics and tables have been updated and the most current references are included.  A separate chapter on morbidity has been included and the final chapter focuses on the public policy interface with health demography.  Case studies and sidebars are included throughout the book to illustrate the applications of demography within the healthcare arena.  Recent developments in U.S. healthcare are highlighted to give the text a very contemporary presence.