Needs Assessment
From Clinicaltools.com
Needs are identified through a series of in-depth interviews and nominal groups (Delbecq et al., 1975; Gustafson et al., 1992), using principles from the Critical Incident Technique (Flanagan, 1954). Participants are asked to recall and describe fears, frustrations, uncertainties, and difficulties faced in a series of critical incidents.
Underlying needs can then be identified and used to develop surveys to prioritize those needs. Surveys are distributed in a variety of settings in order to obtain a varied sample and large enough numbers to perform statistical analyses and to quantify the results. Survey respondents are asked to identify both the importance of the various needs, as well as their satisfaction with how well those needs are currently being met. Analysis of the difference between ratings of importance and satisfaction provides insight into the areas where the greatest "tension for change" exists, indicating where additional education and support interventions can have the greatest impact.
References
- Delbecq AL, Van de Ven AH, Gustafson DH. Group techniques for program planning: a guide to nominal group and Delphi processes. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman; 1975. 174p.
- Flanagan JC. The critical incident technique. Psychol Bull. 1954 Jul;51(4):327-58.
- Gustafson DH, Cats-Baril WL, Alemi F. Systems to support health policy analysis: theory, models, and uses. Ann Arbor, MI: Health Administration Press; 1992. 431p.
Resources
- Needs Assessment Guidelines - From Wright State University's continuing medical education (CME) program
- Needs Assessment: The First Step - From organizational-development consultants Robert H. Rouda and Mitchell E. Kusy, Jr.
- PubMed Search of Educational Needs Assessment AND Continuing Medical Education - An RSS feed of the results one receives when combining these two MeSH terms
