"I have reviewed a number of books looking for meaningful content to help my students understand and work with vulnerable populations. This is the most comprehensive, yet understandable book on the topic." — Doody's Reviews, 2005

". . .combines thoughtful, coherent theory with a large amount of information available in a single source. It will prove to be a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, teachers, and students alike for years to come." -- Journal of the American Medical Association, April 20, 2005

Vulnerable Populations in the United Statesoffers in-depth data on access to care, quality of care, and health status and updates and summarizes what is currently known regarding the pathways and mechanisms linking vulnerability with poor health and health care outcomes. Written by Leiyu Shi and Gregory D. Stevens, this book provides a coherent, well-integrated, general framework for the scientific study of vulnerable populations—a framework that is compatible with the focus of public health policy and the Healthy People initiative. The comprehensive volume Vulnerable Populations in the United States

• Discusses the determinants of vulnerability using a broad framework that includes both social and individual determinants.
• Portrays the mechanisms whereby vulnerability influences access, quality, and health status.
• Summarizes the literature and provides empirical evidence of disparities in health care access, quality, and outcome for vulnerable populations.
• Focuses on influences of individual risk factors and multiple risk factors .
• Reviews programs currently in place for vulnerable populations.

• Instructors material available.

--F. Douglas Scutchfield, MD, Peter P Bosomworth Professor of Health Services Research and Policy, University of Kentucky

Vulnerable Populations in the United States offers in-depth data on access to care, quality of care, and health status and updates and summarizes what is currently known regarding the pathways and mechanisms linking vulnerability with poor health and health care outcomes.

The comprehensive volume

• Summarizes the literature and provides empirical evidence of disparities in health care access, quality, and outcome for vulnerable populations
• Explains the role of social and individual determinants in vulnerability
• Details the impact of vulnerability on access, quality, and health status
• Reviews programs currently in place for vulnerable populations

In addition, Vulnerable Populations in the United States proposes a new course of action to improve the health services system and addresses the multifaceted health needs of vulnerable populations.

"Provides much-needed guidance to policymakers challenged with providing solutions to this embarrassing issue in the United States."

—F. Douglas Scutchfield, M.D., Peter P. Bosomworth Professor of Health Services Research and Policy, University of Kentucky

"Leiyu Shi and Greg Stevens may do for vulnerable populations what Dr. Shi did for health services research when he wrote its first textbook, Health Services Research Methods."

—William P. Brandon, Metrolina Medical Foundation Distinguished Professor of Health Policy, University of North Carolina Charlotte

"For students, researchers, practitioners, administrators, and policymakers—Shi and Stevens' book is required reading."

—Michael Seid, policy researcher, RAND Health

"A new model for understanding the multiple factors that contribute to vulnerability and how they interrelate."

—Keith J. Mueller, rural health research, University of Nebraska Medical Center

I have reviewed a number of books looking for meaningful content to help my students understand and work with vulnerable populations. This is the most comprehensive, yet understandable book on the topic. — Doody's Reviews, 2005

, . .combines thoughtful, coherent theory with a large amount of information available in a single source. It will prove to be a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, teachers, and students alike for years to come. — Journal of the American Medical Association, April 20, 2005

Vulnerable Populations in the United States offers in-depth data on access to care, quality of care, and health status and updates and summarizes what is currently known regarding the pathways and mechanisms linking vulnerability with poor health and health care outcomes. Written by Leiyu Shi and Gregory D. Stevens, this book provides a coherent, well-integrated, general framework for the scientific study of vulnerable populations— a framework that is compatible with the focus of public health policy and the Healthy People initiative. The comprehensive volume Vulnerable Populations in the United States Discusses the determinants of vulnerability using a broad framework that includes both social and individual determinants. Portrays the mechanisms whereby vulnerability influences access, quality, and health status. Summarizes the literature and provides empirical evidence of disparities in health care access, quality, and outcome for vulnerable populations. Focuses oninfluences of individual risk factors and multiple risk factors . Reviews programs currently in place for vulnerable populations.

Instructors material available.

Gregory D. Stevens is a senior researcher with the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families, and Communities.

Preface.

About the Authors.

1. A General Framework to Study Vulnerable Populations.

2. The Community Determinants and Mechanisms of Vulnerability.

3. Disparities in Health Care Access, Quality, and Health Status: The Influence of Individual Risk Factors.

4. Disparities in Health Care Access, Quality, and Health Status: The Influence of Multiple Risk Factors.

5. Current Strategies to Serve Vulnerable Populations.

6. Resolving Disparities in the United States.

Glossary.

References.

Name Index. Subject Index.