Medical statistics is a science that studies the quantitative component of mass phenomena and processes in society inextricably linked with their qualitative characteristics in certain conditions of time and place. This universal science covers absolutely all spheres of human activity. Medical or other sanitary statistics are studying the quantitative side of phenomena, and in addition, processes that are related to the field of health and hygiene. More information about medical statistics, as well as its tasks will be discussed later.
Sections of medical statistics
Medical statistics is a science in which there are three sections:
- Health related statistics. This section studies the health status of the entire population. He also affects his individual groups. Information is usually collected through statistical analyzes, and in addition, data collection on the composition and total population. In this case, the reproduction of the population, as well as its natural movement along with physical development, the prevalence of various diseases, life expectancy, and so on, are strictly taken into account. The assessment of population health indicators is carried out by comparing the data with the generally accepted assessment level. In particular, the dynamics are observed information that is obtained in different regions.
- These are medical health statistics. The section deals with the collection, processing and analysis of information about all health care facilities. At the same time, such parameters as the placement of these organizations, their equipment, activities and personnel are taken into account. With regard to personnel, information is collected on the total number of doctors, as well as on secondary and junior medical personnel, as well as on the distribution of persons according to their immediate specialties and length of service. With regard to personnel, information is also collected on retraining and so on. As part of the analysis of the activities of health care organizations, the information obtained is compared with regulatory levels.
- Clinical statistics in medicine is a section that monitors the use of techniques in the processing of experimental, and in addition, laboratory research results. Such statistics make it possible to quantitatively evaluate the reliability of the results of a study. Thanks to it, it is possible to solve a number of other problems, for example, we are talking about determining the volume of the required number of observations during sample studies, forming an experimental and control group, studying the presence of correlation and regression relationships, as well as eliminating qualitative heterogeneity of groups and so on.
Medical statistics and its objectives
Medical statistics is a branch of science that has a number of specific tasks, including the following:
- The study of the health status of the entire population as a whole.
- Implementation of the analysis of the criterion of quantitative characteristics of health in society.
- Establishing a link between health indicators and various factors of the social and natural environment.
- Assessing the influence of environmental and social factors on the level of public health. What other tasks of medical statistics are known?
- Studying the material and technical base in the health care system.
- Conducting an analysis of the activities of medical organizations.
- Assessment of medical and social, and in addition, economic efficiency, which is achieved in the framework of medical, anti-epidemic and preventive measures.
- The use of statistical techniques in the performance of clinical, and in addition, experimental medical and biological studies.
Methods of social diagnostics
Statistics in medicine is considered a method of social diagnostics, since it makes it possible to provide an assessment of the general health status of the entire population in a country or region. On this basis, measures are being developed that are aimed at improving public health. The most important principle of medical statistics is its application to the study of not single, but mass phenomena. Thanks to this, it is possible to identify the general laws of such phenomena. These patterns can be observed, as a rule, when studying the general statistical population.
Statistics as a leading method in medicine
Medicine is in dire need of statistical research. Thanks to such studies, the health department is able to achieve the following results:
- A quantitative measurement of public health indicators is taking place.
- The performance indicators of medical organizations are established.
- The strength of the influence of certain factors on the health of the population is determined.
- The effectiveness of the treatment is determined.
- The effectiveness of the implementation of recreational activities is established.
- There is an assessment of the dynamics of health indicators, thanks to which it is possible to predict them.
- The necessary information is obtained, which is required for the development of standards, and in addition, health standards.
The objective laws of reality
Directly sanitary statistics suggests the following objective laws of reality:
- The pattern of large numbers. Such regularities can most clearly manifest themselves with a large number of all kinds of observations.
- Probability theory. This theory is the basis of sample research methods. The bottom line is to create the same conditions for the material to be selected and studied.
What else does this industry statistics do?
Health Assessment Levels
The following levels of health assessment are identified in the framework of medical and social research:
- Individual. In this case, we are talking directly about the health status of a single person.
- Group. This level involves the study of the overall picture of health in social and ethnic groups.
- Regional. This level provides information about health in the area of administrative territories.
- Public. This level is global and studies the population. The health department is extremely interested in this.
Public health: the challenges of science
Public health science has the following objectives:
- The study and observation of the influence of medical and social factors, along with conditions and lifestyle, on the health of various categories of the population.
- Preparation of scientifically based recommendations in order to prevent and eliminate adverse medical and social conditions. And besides, factors and health measures for the general improvement of the level of public health.
Why else do you need health statistics?
- Preparation of recommendations for practical bodies and organizations in the field of healthcare within the framework of regulatory staffing, planning and forecasting the activities of individual specialists and institutions. In addition, recommendations are made in relation to medical care organizations, as well as sanitary and epidemiological welfare. In parallel, the fundamentals of organizational and economic forms of medical insurance are analyzed along with management, marketing and modeling of clinical services for the population.
- The Bureau of Medical Statistics evaluates public health criteria along with the quality of medical care and its optimization.
Types of medical and social research
Methods of conducting medical and social research in the field of statistics involve the use of the following methods of collecting information:
- Historical method.
- Dynamic observation.
- Sanitary and statistical reception. This research method is the main.
- Performing a medical sociological analysis.
- Collection of expert opinions.
- Carrying out a system analysis.
- Implementation of organizational experiments.
- The use of planning and regulatory methods.
Subject and object of medical and social research
The subject of medical statistics are:
- The study of public health (the health status of a certain territory, risk factors for harmful production, etc.).
- Research work (conducting research, writing scientific papers, organizing scientific and practical conferences, symposia, seminars, etc.).
- The study of the activities of health facilities (the quality of the territorial clinic, the effectiveness of the clinic, the turnover of hospital beds, etc.).
- Work on the methodology for conducting medical and statistical research.
The objects of medical and social research are:
- The population of administrative territories. In this case, we are talking about patients who suffer from a certain nosology.
- Separate organizations. In this case, all kinds of clinics are meant along with hospitals, diagnostic centers, specialized services, industrial enterprises, healthcare institutions and the like.
- Bodies in the health system, for example, various ministries along with agencies, committees, departments, sectors and so on.
- Environmental objects. By such objects we mean reservoirs along with areas of plantations, agricultural holdings and the like.
- General, and in addition, specific factors affecting the risk of various diseases. Such factors include environmental distress along with harmful production, mechanical, chemical and physical prerequisites.