Population-based research: The foundation for development, management, andevaluation of a community nursing center

The use of population level data is central to developing and managing comm unity-focused programs that promote and protect the health of the public an d to evaluating the outcomes of these efforts. Community nursing centers pr ovide a focus to examine the use of population level data in the developmen t of programs for community health practice and research. While health-rela ted data may be analyzed at the level of individuals, families, populations , or communities, for effective community programs the use of population le vel data is essential. The conceptual relationship of these different level s of data to the organizational process is explored.