Assessing Needs and Understanding Behaviour and Environmental Risk Factors

13 April to 24 May

Workload: 30 hours per week
Faculty: Dr Jane Alaii
Assessment: Oral and written presentation of a research proposal by a group of 4/ 5 students and an individual test. Note that 100% attendance is required throughout the course.

Content and objectives
During this course students will learn that decisions about health promotion programs are reached after a careful assessment of social, cultural, epidemiological, organisational, behavioural and environmental factors that affect health and quality of life.  During the workshop in the first week students will apply the first 5 phases of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model in small groups to a problem selected by each group from the KABANGA-case or the Rotterdam-case. In particular, students will be encouraged to apply theories and models for understanding the health problem, the environmental and behavioural determinants of the health problem and understanding of the administrative and political context for solutions of the problem.

In the rest of the course, the students will develop a research proposal for a needs assessment or problem analysis targeting a problem of their choice. Students will again work individually or at maximum with one other student on a research proposal of their choice. Meetings in a “research group” or “needs assessment committee” of about 4 or 5 students will be held on a regular basis to discuss progress and receive feedback from colleagues and one of the unit coordinators. A detailed proposal for a needs assessment will be written with a motivation for the selection of the problem based on epidemiological considerations, review of relevant literature and previous research, specification of the research problem, theory and models that will be applied in the needs assessment, specification of the design for the needs assessment and measurements based on the theory and models that have been chosen, selection of research group(s), data analysis, planning of the study, and budget required. During the different phases of working on the needs assessment proposal opportunities for feedback from colleagues and unit coordinators will be possible at designated meetings. During the last day of the unit the students will present their proposal for a forum of senior scientists and representatives from the funding organization.

Literature

·         Green, L.W. & Kreuter, M.W. (1991). Health promotion planning, an educational and environmental approach. Mayfield: Mountain View.

·         Gilmore, G. D., & Campbell, M.D. (2005). Needs and capacity assessment strategies for health education and promotion (Third ed.). Sudbury, MA [etc.]: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

·         Witkin, R.B., & Altschuld, J.W. (1995). Planning and conducting needs assessments – A practical guide -. Thousand Oaks/London/New Delhi: Sage Publications.