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Using CBPR to Assess Client Needs at a Social Service Agency
Author(s) -
Amendola Mary Grace,
Nazario Noelia,
Sanchez Veronica
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/phn.12204
Subject(s) - focus group , agency (philosophy) , community based participatory research , participatory action research , needs assessment , nursing , social work , health care , public relations , qualitative research , psychological intervention , sociology , medical education , psychology , gerontology , medicine , political science , social science , anthropology , law
Community‐based participatory research ( CBPR ) has become an important research approach for universities to partner with social service agencies by uniting them in project design, planning, implementation, and evaluation. Objectives This study involved FOCUS , an urban social service agency, and Rutgers College of Nursing ( RUCON ) collaboratively conducting a needs assessment to compare the health needs of its clients and their employees' perception of their clients health needs, utilizing CBPR . Design Qualitative data was collected using the focus group method, field notes, photographs, and observation. The employees of FOCUS facilitated focus groups, participant recruitment, and transcribed and translated data. Results Three themes emerged: Health Education, Cost of Health Care, and Barriers to Health Care. Conclusion This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge of integrating the CBPR approach when conducting a community needs assessment with a social service agency. The CBPR approach closely reflects the identified health needs of its clients resulting in interventions that will meet their specific health needs.