This section:

• Lays out your focus on a particular health status and/or behavioral issue.

• Describes the total population affected using health indicators.

• Compares national to state to local data -- if at all possible.

• Describes your population in terms of who is affected and how they are affected: ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic position.

• Places data in relationship to other data or associated problems to begin to highlight the importance of the issue in your community.

Example

The following is an example of a Section 1 for an Animal Therapy Program with Senior Citizens in Johnson City. (The important components are italicized and colored.)

           Mental illness affects approximately 20% of the U.S. population every year (broad health issue prevalence). Of the mental illnesses, depression is the most common, affecting more than 19 million adults in the U.S., and costing over $40 billion annually in diminished productivity and utilization of health care resources [Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2000] (moving to focus on specific mental illness (depression) and giving prevalence and cost impact). The highest rates of depression occur among adults, with incidence rates of 15-23% among persons 65 years of age and older (highlighting important age differences in incidence). Women are more likely than men to experience depressive symptoms; however, a similar prevalence occurs among men and women 85 years of age and older [Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics, 2004] (showing gender difference). In 1998, 11.3% of persons 65 years of age and over residing in Tennessee reported depressive symptoms, compared to 13.8% in Northeast Tennessee [Tennessee Department of Health, 2003] (comparing Tennessee to our Region). Among senior citizens participating in a needs assessment at the Johnson City Seniors’ Center, 11.4-31.8% reported they sometimes experienced depressive symptoms (including own assessment information gathered).

DID YOU NOTICE???
The Needs Statement starts out broadly and then becomes more specific with providing epidemiological information about the specific condition and/or behavior.

Q. What information would be important to include for your population to describe the
      extent of the problem?
 

Create an outline of the Needs Statement by addressing the following questions:

1.  What is the health issue? US, Tennessee, Northeast Tennessee, County level prevalence or incidence. What would help to show this health issue is of concern?

2.    Are you focused on a specific behavior related to the health issue? If so how is it related to the health issue, and what is the prevalence for the behavioral risk factor in the US, Tennessee, Regionally, or Locally. Need to show this risk factor is of concern.

3.   What specific population are you focused on? Why is it a good idea to focus on this specific population? Need to show that focusing on this population is important.
 

Making Comparisons

• Comparisons serve as one of the primary criteria used to determine the relative importance among several health problems.

• Also, comparisons between community, state, and national rates and indicators serve to highlight local needs and priorities.

• Comparing data over time to find trends is also an important approach to describing needs. 

Example of revealing comparisons:
Obesity Trend Maps from CDC  (click to see PowerPoint slides)

Epidemiology Review Time
 

Sources of Data for Developing Needs Statement