Contribution

Operational Research (OR) and health services research are recognised in the academic world and in health care management as valid tools for health needs assessment, services evaluation and problem solving. If any benefits are expected from the application of this type of research to the health care sector, it is important to have a clear definition of the characteristics, potentialities and limitations of the OR. OR is based on the use of mathematical models. It goes through the stages of: definition of the problem, construction of the model, identification of the solution, validation of the model and the solution, implementation and evaluation of the solution The analysis of the methodology used in OR highlights the use of descriptive, analytical, experimental and “quasi-experimental” designs, techniques of economic, statistical, demographic, social and anthropological analysis. These techniques may not be always strictly “operational”. OR turns out to be very useful when the variables determining the issue (or the problem) under study, can be identified and described in their interrelationships and iterations. Studying the problem leads to identifying the solution. As long as OR focuses on problem solving, it will contribute to the improvement of health services management.