NMBI Systems, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA.
Am J Prev Med. 2011 Jul;41(1):112-7. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.03.018.
Public health services and systems research (PHSSR) focuses on the structure, organization, and legal basis of domestic public health activities and their effect on population health. An accurate description of the field is needed to empower funding agencies and other stakeholders to coordinate PHSSR activities and to foster the development of the field. The purpose of the study is to characterize the emerging community of researchers engaged in PHSSR. This study (1) describes dynamics of this growing community and (2) identifies research themes, subgroups within the field, and collaboration among groups.
Coauthorship network visualization of selected research publications in the MEDLINE bibliographic database between 1988 and May 2010.
PHSSR has emerged gradually with noticeable growth after 1994 and after 2004. The network of PHSSR research has a core-periphery structure. The core includes highly collaborative researchers focusing on topics pertaining directly to PHSSR, such as workforce, quality improvement and performance, law, and information infrastructure. The periphery consists of groups publishing either on general health services research topics or on epidemiologic and clinical topics.
Although a nucleus group of productive and engaged individuals participate in PHSSR, most also publish broadly on health services research and population health. This trend suggests that this emerging field cannot yet support a singular focus on PHSSR. Lack of funding sources and defined career paths likely contribute to this pattern. An overview of collaboration in PHSSR is an important step in advancing a coordinated research agenda and attracting sustainable funding streams for this field.
公共卫生服务和系统研究（PHSSR）侧重于国内公共卫生活动的结构、组织和法律基础及其对人口健康的影响。需要对该领域进行准确描述，以使资助机构和其他利益相关者能够协调 PHSSR 活动，并促进该领域的发展。本研究的目的是描述从事 PHSSR 的研究人员的新兴社区。本研究（1）描述了这个不断发展的社区的动态，（2）确定了研究主题、该领域内的子组以及组间的合作。
在 1988 年至 2010 年 5 月期间，对 MEDLINE 书目数据库中选定的研究出版物进行合著网络可视化。
PHSSR 自 1994 年以后逐渐出现明显增长，并且自 2004 年以后更是如此。PHSSR 研究的网络具有核心-边缘结构。核心包括专注于直接与 PHSSR 相关主题的高度协作的研究人员，例如劳动力、质量改进和绩效、法律以及信息基础设施。外围由专注于一般卫生服务研究主题或流行病学和临床主题的小组组成。
尽管有一组核心的多产和参与的个人参与 PHSSR，但大多数人也广泛发表关于卫生服务研究和人口健康的文章。这种趋势表明，这个新兴领域还不能支持对 PHSSR 的单一关注。缺乏资金来源和明确的职业道路可能是造成这种模式的原因。对 PHSSR 合作的概述是推进协调一致的研究议程并为该领域吸引可持续资金流的重要步骤。
