Abstract

LOPEZ PARDO, Cándido M.  and  ALONSO GALBAN, Patricia. Definitions, characteristics and problems in the use of health indicators. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2011, vol.37, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3127.

Introduction A lot of writings have been published about the use, non-use and excessive use of indicators but the topic is still controversial. Objective To provide significant information on the use of indicators in the health care field. Methods A literature review was made including documents from international bodies and national institutions, writings, Ph D´s theses and journal articles. More than 50% of these documents had been published in the last 10 years. Two definitions of indicators, the characteristics that they should have, some problems inherent to their use and the estimation of indicators for small populations were found. Results The definition of indicator as a measuring instrument rather than the conceptualization of indicator as a goal, being the latter the way in which the project design and assessment processeses do it, was accepted. The attributes for any kind of indicator were summarized. Some examples of the problems that may arise in the use of the indicator infant mortality and others, in the use of indicators for evaluation, their interpretation, their adequacy regarding the population size and the used constant were provided. Conclusions The authors supported the definition of indicator as a measuring instrument. There are several attributes for an indicator suggested by a number of authors. Some of them are applicable to any kind of indicator whereas others are more appropriate for particular settings; however all of them should be taken into consideration in the design and selection of indicators. Emphasis was made on the problems that may be present in the construction and the use of indicators.

Keywords : Indicator; health sciences; statistics; public health.

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