The community tracking study analyses of market change: Introduction

Objective. To introduce two articles and describe methods that are common t o them. Data Sources/Study Setting. Interviews conducted in person in 1996/1997 wit h leaders of organizations involved in the financing and delivery of health care. Study Design. As part of the Community Tracking Study, 12 metropolitan stat istical areas (MSAs) were selected randomly from MSAs with populations over 200,000. Researchers made baseline site visits to these communities and co nducted from 36 to 60 interviews, depending on the size of the site. The co mmunities were compared to identify common patterns of change and differenc es across communities. Data Collection/Extraction Methods. Researchers conducted interviews with a broad cross-section of leaders in each community. Interview modules were d esigned to obtain multiple perspectives on a question. Principal Findings and Conclusions. Fundamental changes in the way care is actually delivered is likely to lag behind the extensive changes in organiz ational relationships that are taking place.