Population laboratories and health needs assessment.

In the 1960s Walter Holland established a series of epidemiological studies in a defined geographical population in southeast London. This endeavour was an example of the ambition held by generations of epidemiologists to study human populations under actual conditions of community life. Early examples of American population laboratories were mainly concerned with studies of aetiology whereas p.c. (post-Cochrane) studies have aimed to identify both aetiological factors and to assess need for effective and efficient health services. The case is made for the value of a population laboratory in facilitating mortality follow-up studies, undertaking health care needs assessments and evaluating new technologies.