Needs Assessments Flashcards
Needs Assessment
A method of discovering, evaluating, and prioritizing the health needs of a population
Importance of Needs Assessment
- Provides local health information necessary for program planning
- Exposes problems
- Identifies potential solutions
What 8 Factors Influence Behavior and Health?
- Biological factors
- Psychological factors
- Education and other socioeconomic factors
- Social values
- Cultural values
- Political factors
- Structural factors
- Other environmental factors
Public health model
A model that addresses health or social problems in a comprehensive way. It considers human factors, characteristics of the source of harm, and the environment, identifying causes and suggesting possible ways to intervene
Informal Needs Assessment
Informal
Data collected from conversations with people familiar with the community
No pre-determined questions
Discussions with clients and staff where services are delivered
Results can be the starting point for a formal needs assessment
Formal Needs Assessment
Formal
Very structured process
Uses predetermined questions
Follows a successful model of community assessment
Risk Factor Data
Causes of various health problems
- Disease agents
- Personal characteristics
- Environmental factors
- Social factor in the community
Resource Data
Resources available in a community to treat disease or reduce the practice of risky behaviors
- Exercise facilities
- Healthy foods
- Community members that know their neighbors
- Health facilities, clinics
- Health professionals
- Health literacy
Demographic Data
Behaviors, morbidity and mortality can differ by demographic characteristics
- Age
- Gender
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Location of residence
- Education
- Marital status
6 Steps in Assessing Community Needs
- Determining the purpose and scope of the needs assessment
- Gathering data
- Analyzing data
- Identifying the problems linked to the health problem
- Identifying the program focus
- Validating the prioritized need
