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Better Understanding Our Problem: Pro blem-Orient ed Needs Assessment. William M. Sappenfield , MD, MPH Professor & Chair, Dept. of Community and Family Health USF College of Public Health Training Course in MCH Epidemiology Denver Colorado. Being Effective in Public Health.
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Better Understanding Our Problem:Problem-Oriented Needs Assessment William M. Sappenfield, MD, MPH Professor & Chair, Dept. of Community and Family Health USF College of Public Health Training Course in MCH Epidemiology Denver Colorado
Needs Assessment • Underreporting of prenatal visits • Physicians not starting to 2nd trimester • Late entry into the WIC program • Problem recognition by Community • Transportation & child care barriers • Unintended pregnancy
Potential Strategies • Underreporting of prenatal visits • Vital registration manual • Clerk training • Health department record transfer • Physician record transfer • Standardized prenatal care record • Physician & hospital education • Monthly reporting system • Hospital standards • Incentive awards
Chosen Strategies • Underreporting of prenatal visits • Vital registration manual • Clerk training • Health department record transfer • Physician record transfer • Standardized prenatal care record • Physician & hospital education • Monthly reporting system • Hospital standards • Incentive awards
So Why Doesn’t It Happen? • Limited/over-committed staffing. • Limited expertise. • Lack of adequate follow-up. • Previous planning failures. • Insufficient resources for current initiatives. • Lack of political will. • Committed/focused on present activities. • Competing priorities/desires.
Definition of Needs Assessment Systematic collection and examination of information… to make decisions to formulate a plan… for the next steps leading to public health action…
Needs Assessment Qualities • Visionary • Conceptual • Systematic • Resourceful • Pragmatic • Action-oriented • Cohesive
Types of Needs Assessment... • Community--Healthy Communities • Population--Title V (MCH) • Health Systems--Emergency Response • Program--Title X (Family Planning) • Health Services--Prenatal Clinic Location • Health Problem--Infant Mortality
Needs Assessment Phases Part 1 • Health problem identification and measurement • Prioritization of health problems • Analysis of a particular health problem • Assess potential strategies to address targeted aspects Part 2
What is a health problem? • Community perception? • Health status measure? • Risk Factor? • Health Service Deficiency? • Measurement? • Comparison?
Problem Identification & Verification • Stakeholders • Partners • Reports • Available Data Purpose: Search & compile
Problem Definition • Extent • Duration • Expected future course • Variation Purpose: Define, describe & validate
Types of Prioritization • Group consensus • Voting • Criteria-based rating • Q sort Purpose: Build consensus/support
Part 1:Identification & PrioritizationSelection Criteria • Magnitude of the problem • Trend • Severity/consequences • Perceived preventability • National/state goals • Agency capacity • Political/community acceptability
Part 1:Identification & PrioritizationReal Selection Criteria • State or agency political will • Current program priority • Currently funded activity • Fits current staffing/resource patterns • People available to work on the issue • Important issue to the heart
Clear Scoring Criteria Magnitude • Low incidence/prevalence • Moderate in some subgroups • Moderate in all groups • High in some subgroups • High in all groups
Part 1:Identification & PrioritizationReal Selection Criteria • Available funding • State or agency political will • Program priority • Currently funded activity • Fits current staffing/resource patterns • People available to work on the issue • Required performance measure • Important issue to the heart
Needs Assessment Phases Part 1 • Health problem identification and measurement • Prioritization of health problems • Analysis of a particular health problem • Assess potential strategies to address targeted aspects Part 2
Evaluation Assessment Plan Who? What? Monitor Capacity & Strategies When? Where? How? Resources? Implement Plan Do Being Effective in Public Health
Bill's Steps for Problem-Oriented Needs Assessment • Theoretical Framework • Gather Readily Available Information • Frame and Choose Critical Questions • Choose and Develop Methods • Analyze and Answer Your Questions • Summarize Your Problem • Present the Results
Gather… • Other Needs Assessments • Available Reports • Key Data People • Key Community People
Frame & Choose Critical Questions • What Are Remaining Questions? • What is Gained By Answering the Question? Do Something Different? • Can the Question Be Answered? • What Will It Cost? • Will It Be Part of the Big Picture?
Bill's Steps for Problem-Oriented Needs Assessment • Theoretical Framework • Gather Readily Available Information • Frame and Choose Critical Questions • Choose and Develop Methods • Analyze and Answer Your Questions • Summarize Your Problem • Present the Results
Needs Assessment Results • Statement of the problem • Problem trends • Individual contributors to the problem • Individual strengths • Community contributors to the problem • Community strengths
Problem Analysis Access to poison by children Provide childproof containers Ingestion of poison Reduce poison consumption Death from poison consumption Reduce child poison deaths Program Hypothesis
Program Hypothesis Reduce child poison deaths Death from poison consumption Reduce poison consumption Ingestion of poison Provide childproof containers Access to poison by children Problem Analysis
Program Hypothesis Goal Change in health of community Policy Change in health status of recipients Program Change in characteristics of recipients Operational Activities of the program
Logic Model Framework Population Focus: Community(ies) Assumptions Inputs Activities Outputs Outcomes Theoretical assumptions about why a program works The resources needed to deliver the program Key actions of program staff and clients Products of the program Changes in the target population • Short Term • Intermediate • Long Term
Needs Assessment Debates • Qualitative or Quantitative • Assets or Problems • Assessment or Surveillance • One Time or Ongoing • Ourselves or Contract • Science or Art • Performance or Pretty