Needs Assessment

Question 1

Describe the planning cycle for implementing health services

Answer 1

Needs assessment,
Planning,
Implementation,
Evaluation.

Question 2

Define need, demand, and supply

Answer 2

Need: benefit from an intervention.
Demand: what people ask for (may not be a need.)
Supply: what is actually provided.

Question 3

Define felt need, expressed need, normative need, and comparative need.

Answer 3

• Individual perceptions of variations from normal health.
• Expressed: felt needs the individual seeks help to overcome
• Normative: professional defines an intervention appropriate for this expressed need.
• Comparative: comparison between severity, range of interventions, and cost between this group and another group.

Question 4

What are the 3 approaches to health needs assessments?

Answer 4

Epidemiological: research and data on the incidence, prevalence, services already available, cost-effectiveness etc.

• Comparative: compares services received with others in a similar group.
• Corporate: considers views from Px, families, professionals, providers and comissioners.

Question 5

What are the issues with the epidemiological view of health needs assessment?

Answer 5

The wide range of data needed may not be available.

the data quality may be variable.

Does not consider the FELT needs of people.

Question 6

What are the issues with the comparative view of health needs assessment?

Answer 6

Highlights differences, without explaining why.

Difficult to find an appropriate comparative group.

Question 7

What are the issues with the corporate view of health needs assessment?

Answer 7

Difficult to distinguish needs from demands.

Some groups have vested interests.

The dominant voices may have undue influence.