Health Needs Assessment Flashcards
Why are HNAs important?
As doctors, we will be in a position to decide what services are provided and implemented, not just treating individuals
Role of HNAs?
Health needs assessment => planning => implementation => evaluation => health needs assessment
Define need
The ability to benefit from an intervention
Who defines a need
Anyone can
Define felt need
Individual perceptions
Define normative need
Professional defines the intervention appropriate for the need
Define comparative need
Comparison between severity, range of interventions and cost
Difference between demand and supply
Demand: what people ask for
Supply: what is provided
Define a health needs assessment
A systematic method for reviewing the health issues facing a population, leading to agreed priorities and resource allocation that will improve health and reduce inequalities
Who are HNAs carried out for?
- population (or sub-group)
- a condition
- an intervention
What is the epidemiological approach
Uses data and evidence available to quantitate the need of a population
Pros of the epidemiological approach
- uses existing data
- can evaluate trends over time
Cons of the epidemiological approach
- data may not be available
- does not consider the felt need
What is the comparative approach
- Compares XXX between sub groups
XXX could be:
- Health status or outcome
- Service provision or utilisation
Pros of the comparative approach
- Quick and cheap and no need for data
- Gives a measure of relative performance
