HEALTH NEED

Health Need Assessment



Health Need Assessment

Introduction

An assessment of community health needs assessment is a continuous state of health of a community. This work seeks to assess the priorities for health personal and communal. It involves:

collecting information related to health (facts and opinions)

the collection of information resources related to health present in the

community (resources)

Identification of key issues for the community (priorities)

the commitment and support of people in order to address issues related to health

Community (partnership)

Any assessment of community health needs requires an assessment of matters related to this area, but beyond that assessment with a focus on assets that it related, ie people and resources within these communities. This method allows the members who compose and policy makers to see the present state of things, to identify the main concerns related to this field and to be able to deal the latter using the strengths and resources present in the community (Hipple, 2001, pp. 3-27).

Why conduct an assessment of community health needs?

A healthy community is more than a goal, it is a process in which each community makes its own decisions and develop their own answers. A growing number of people recognized that the personal and community health goes beyond the services offered by local hospitals. Health is not merely the absence of disease, but also involves the search for wellness. Conducting an assessment of community health needs will guide communities to a level of wellness by first identifying the resources that are present, and by then match those resources to the needs of health that have been identified. Communities will be able to refer the services related to health (Johnstone et.al, 2005, pp. 93-116).

Discussion

Phases of the evaluation of community health needs

The five phases of the evaluation of community health needs are (Johnstone, Wilson, pp. 59-80):

Orientation Phase

This phase is the identification of members who will form the organizing team. Once formed, this team will lead the development and implementation process of evaluation.

Development Phase

The development phase involves the preparation by the organizing team, a plan of action containing the information required for its completion and indicating where these are are in addition to how to collect and persons designated to perform this task.

Data Collection Phase

In general, the collection of information (data) occurs when members of sub-committees to implement community strategies identified by the organizing team, that is to say the polls, focus groups, discussions public reports, consultations, meetings, etc.

Analysis Phase

During this phase, the organizing team gathers and analyzes information obtained by the subcommittees. This information should reflect both the problems and resources of the community. It is important during this process to keep all stakeholders and all members of the community informed and engaged in an active.

Phase prioritization

Based on the problems and resources identified through the assessment process community health needs, this phase is for interested parties and community members to establish a list of priorities to be addressed and a list of adequate resources to each ...