Health needs assessment tool for identifying the health issues among community residents with unmet needs

Abstract

Abstract Background This study aimed to discuss the method for designing a community project, especially in a resource-limited setting, using a health needs assessment tool, the Community Health Issues Interview Sheet, for the design of a project in the initial phase. Methods The Community Health Issues Interview Sheet was developed; this tool applied more than four field and modified based on feedback from researchers and stakeholders. Results When researchers from outside a target community design a community project, there are three factors to consider: resource size, target population, and focused health issues. The interview sheet was aimed at identifying priority health issues among the target population. Conclusions All community projects should be well-designed, and priority health issues should be assessed using a health needs assessment tool, such as the interview sheet in the initial project stage. Further education for researchers about project design in communities with resource-limited settings should be provided, and research on the experience of using the health needs assessment tool should be accumulated.

Keywords

• Health needs assessment
• Community-based projects
• Citizen science
• Community ownership
• Resource-limited setting