It is attained through an evaluation of different types of data, such as patterns of diseases, social and lifestyle behaviors, cultural beliefs, diet, and the economic condition that are major determinants of health. The practice has proved to be quite significant in the identifying the major health risks in a community and developing evidence-based strategies to mitigate them. Nonetheless, it is critical for a healthcare provider to comprehend the required type of data for a community assessment, the different ways to acquire it, and the means of its validation in order to obtain quality results.
Type of Data Required for an Informed Community Health Assessment
The types of information and social issues essay examples required to make an informed community health assessment include but are not limited to population trends, mortality rates, morbidity data, behavior measures, health inequalities, frequency and usage of health care services, and the overall quality of life (Pennel, McLeroy, Burdine, Matarrita-Cascante, Wang, 2016). The data gathered is then profiled based on geographical boundaries, age, gender, ethnicity, cultural beliefs, language, and level of education among the targeted population. This is critical towards ensuring that the community health assessment is informed and strategically focused on a specific group.
Importance of the Data in Determining the Healthcare Needs of the Community
The required data can help with determination of the healthcare needs of the community in a variety of ways. For instance, the information on population trends and mortality rates is essential for identifying patterns of diseases, their primary causes and the needs for service changes based on the population’s state of health. Moreover, morbidity data can provide essential information on the needs of a community through an analysis of disease incidence and prevalence rates. According to Pennel et al. (2016), data from behavior measures can be used as indicators of overall health level; for instance, if a large number of community members smokes, then there is a high risk of associated illnesses and related conditions. In addition, data on health inequalities, the use of health services, and quality of life could assist in the identification of the physical and psychological needs of the community. It would also help evaluate the effectiveness of the current health resources and programs, as well as identify the existing or upcoming barriers.
Personal Strategy for Obtaining the Necessary Data
The best strategy for obtaining the data required for community health assessment is through the use of reputable primary and secondary sources where the information is readily available and regularly updated (Johnson, Bartgis, Worley, Hellman, Burkhart, 2010). Hence, a personal strategy aims at obtaining data from federal government bodies, such as the National Institute of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Health and Human Services. I also plan to gather the relevant materials from private and public hospital records with strict adherence to information policies. I will also utilize studies conducted by university researchers, human service providers, and other non-governmental health organizations.
Factors that Impact Health and Wellness of a Community
It is critical to note that the health and wellness of a community are influenced by a variety of factors while conducting a community health assessment. As per Yi, Landais, Kolahdooz and Sharma (2015), the most outwitting factors depend a lot on the environment and are connected with the issues related to air and water pollution, poor sanitation, lack of shelters, and poor transportation. Other factors that affect the health and wellness of a community are linked to poverty and low income. They hinder critical health needs, such as lack of medical covers, poor lifestyles, and unhealthy diets. Moreover, some factors relate to social cohesion and destabilizing issues such as inadequate health resource allocation. However, a researcher or a healthcare practitioner should aim at addressing all influencing factors regardless of their nature.
Personal Strategy for Determining the Related Factors
To start with, I plan to obtain information on the factors that influence health in a specific community directly from the locals. Thus, I will use data from the local hospitals and other available public health records. I will also investigate interviews and ask focus groups the questions related to the overall health state and challenges faced in the community. In addition, I will employ the observation technique to directly observe health care activities and assess the needs of the community. The last but not least, it is critical to obtain information from a wide range of individuals though different types of the surveys. The more data I have, the more accurate an assessment is.
Strategies of Determining the Validity and Reliability of Acquired Data
To determine the validity of collected information, I will use the content and criterion validity evaluation techniques. The first one will determine the construct of interests by measuring the participants’ and researchers’ attitude towards the study. The second one will measure and the obtained data and information based on the certainty of the study results and their generalizability. To evaluate the reliability of the result, I will use the test-retest method; whereby, I observe consistency of the information across time and compare it to other study’s findings. Both validity and reliability of the retrieved data are the key factors for an effective and accurate assessment of the targeted population.
Conclusion
Summing up, community health assessment is important for both the identification of the major health risks in a community and the development of appropriate evidence-based strategies to mitigate them. The types of information needed to make an informed community health assessment include population trends, mortality rates, morbidity data, behavior measures, health inequalities, use of health care services, and the overall quality of life. The best strategy for obtaining such information has been outlined as using reputable primary and secondary sources that focus on a particular community. To evaluate the validity and reliability of the data gathered during the process, one can use the content and criterion validity evaluation and the test-retest method.
