Health Needs Assessment

Question 1

Who created the health needs hierarchy?

Answer 1

Maslow

Question 2

What does the health needs hierarchy represent?

Answer 2

Basic physiological needs necessary from human life through to more spiritual needs

Question 3

What are the 5 categories in the hierarchy of need?

Answer 3

Self actualisation
Esteem
Love and belonging
Safety
Physiological

Question 4

Bradshaw’s taxonomy describes what?

Answer 4

They types of need

Question 5

‘a need which is identified according to a norm. Such norms are generally set by experts’ - what type of need does this define?

Answer 5

Normative need

Question 6

What is a comparative need?

Answer 6

Concerns problems which emerge by comparison with others who are not in need

Question 7

Give an example of comparative need

Answer 7

Comparison of social problems in different areas based on income

Question 8

What is a felt need?

Answer 8

A need which people feel

Question 9

What is an expressed need?

Answer 9

The need which they say they have

Question 10

As well as in the context of health needs assessment, what else is need described as?

Answer 10

A capacity to benefit

Question 11

Why is need also classed as a capacity to benefit?

Answer 11

There is a limited value in identifying a need if there is nothing that the health care system can do about it

Question 12

What is the difference between approach to health needs from Matthew and Buchan?

Answer 12

Matthew - Need for medical care exists when an individual has an illness or disability for which there is effective and acceptable treatment or care’ - i.e. do what you can

Buchan - ‘People in need of a health service are defined as those for whom an intervention produces a benefit at reasonable risk and acceptable cost’ - i.e. is it worth it?

Question 13

What factors affect need?

Answer 13

Incidence
Prevalence
Anything that further influences the prevalence and incidence

Question 14

What factors affect demand?

Answer 14

perception and knowledge of disease
consequences of disease
perceived quality of service
location of individual

Question 15

What is the main factor affecting supply?

Answer 15

History of the particular service in question

Others inc. public and political pressure

Question 16

Family planning and contraceptive services are examples of what in terms of need, demand and supply?

Answer 16

Need, but no demand or supply

Question 17

A patient demanding antibiotics for a cold is an example of what in terms of need, demand and supply?

Answer 17

Demand but no need or supply

Question 18

Give an example of supply but no need or demand

Answer 18

Health checks in people over 75

They are not usually requested but some GPs will provide them even though there is no research states benefits do not outweigh cost

Question 19

Give an example of need and demand but no supply

Answer 19

Substance misuse

Common and associated with morbidity and mortality. Methadone programmes can reduce the risks of addiction and may increase the chance of giving up but it is not available for every patient

Question 20

A patient with chronic insomnia requests and is given long acting sleeping tablets. In the long term this is not effective. What is this an example of in terms of need, supply and demand?

Answer 20

Demand and supply but no need

Question 21

Hep B injections and flu vaccines are offered to healthcare staff for preventative reasons but some staff do not have them. This is an example of what in terms of need, supply and demand?

Answer 21

Supply and need but not demand

Question 22

What is a health needs assessment?

Answer 22

A systemic method for reviewing the health issues facing a population, leading to agreed priorities and resource allocation that will improve and reduce inequalities

Question 23

Why are health needs assessments carried out?

Answer 23

First step in improving the populations health
Helps to priorities resources
Creates an evidence based case
Allows for reflection
Can identify causes of health inequality
Raises public understanding and awarness

Question 24

Why is it important to involve stakeholders in a health needs assessment?

Answer 24

Bring expertise and perspectives
Have an input from the start and so are more likely to accept any recommendations that follow
More people working towards a common goal

Question 25

What are the three sorts of health assessment?

Answer 25

Epidemiological
Comparative
Corporate

Question 26

What are the characteristics of a epidemiological health needs assessment?

Answer 26

Measure health status of population

Evaluate means of addressing identified health problems

Question 27

What are the characteristics of a comparative health needs assessment?

Answer 27

Compare with service provision in similar populations

Question 28

What are the characteristics of a corporate health needs assessment?

Answer 28

Involves experts with a vested interest