METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO HEALTH NEEDS STUDYING
МЕТОДОЛОГИЧНИ ПОДХОДИ ЗА ПРОУЧВАНЕ НА ЗДРАВНИТЕ ПОТРЕБНОСТИ

Summary/Abstract: Health needs assessment is a health policy instrument for providing evidence necessary for health services planning and for overcoming inequalities in health. Health profile is not equivalent to health needs. There is no research model universally applicable to all circumstances. A review of variety of approaches is presented: epidemiological, comparative, continuum of care, etc. The contemporary approach accent is on attention to individual health needs through „listening to people voices“ and studying patient’s experience in the process of health needs satisfaction, which is an expression of social equity. Personal care needs are identified through functional status investigation. Health deficit ascertainment makes sense only if directed to actions for the deficit fulfillment, and that is why contemporary approaches study health needs in the context of the capacity to benefit. The importance of health needs studying lies in searching for ways for their satisfaction.

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