Lessons learned from an occupational therapy programme needs assessment
Background: A needs assessment identifies the differences between actual and ideal situations to facilitate the development of a new programme or improve existing services. Objectives: This article shares our experiences conducting the needs assessment in a context where people had limited or no un...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2024-02-01
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| Series: | African Evaluation Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://aejonline.org/index.php/aej/article/view/699 |
| _version_ | 1827337761819983872 |
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| author | Solomon M. Abebe Reshma P. Nuri Jasmine A. Montagnese Rosemary M. Lysaght Terry Krupa Carol Mieras Yetnayet S. Yehuala Setareh Ghahari Dorothy Kessler Klodiana Kolomitro Beata Batorowicz Anushka Mzinganjira Solomon F. Demissie Nebiyu Mesfin Heather M. Aldersey |
| author_facet | Solomon M. Abebe Reshma P. Nuri Jasmine A. Montagnese Rosemary M. Lysaght Terry Krupa Carol Mieras Yetnayet S. Yehuala Setareh Ghahari Dorothy Kessler Klodiana Kolomitro Beata Batorowicz Anushka Mzinganjira Solomon F. Demissie Nebiyu Mesfin Heather M. Aldersey |
| author_sort | Solomon M. Abebe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: A needs assessment identifies the differences between actual and ideal situations to facilitate the development of a new programme or improve existing services.
Objectives: This article shares our experiences conducting the needs assessment in a context where people had limited or no understanding of the need being assessed.
Method: Adhering to a three-phase model – comprising pre-assessment, assessment, and post-assessment – we employed diverse data collection methods, including quantitative survey, qualitative interviews, and environmental scan.
Results: The findings underscored the necessity of expanding rehabilitation services in Ethiopia, with a shift from a purely medical focus to addressing issues associated with daily functioning and community engagement. These issues align closely with the core expertise and responsibilities of occupational therapists. Participants expressed support for the introduction of occupational therapy in Ethiopia and willingness to incorporate the practice of occupational therapists in their settings. The challenges encountered were how to ask about occupational therapy when it is not well known by members of the local population and how to introduce the profession without biasing participants’ responses.
Conclusion: Conducting a needs assessment was critical to developing occupational therapy services in Ethiopia. We welcome others to learn from our experiences.
Contribution: This manuscript details the assessment process and delves into the challenges we encountered and lessons learned. It extends methodological suggestions to inform future evaluations and contributes valuable insights to the broader discourse on needs assessment and programme development in a context where people have limited awareness of services, such as occupational therapy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:02:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20f7b176fbdf48618040185660ceb2c0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-4988 2306-5133 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:02:07Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Evaluation Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-20f7b176fbdf48618040185660ceb2c02024-03-01T13:17:47ZengAOSISAfrican Evaluation Journal2310-49882306-51332024-02-01121e1e1010.4102/aej.v12i1.699201Lessons learned from an occupational therapy programme needs assessmentSolomon M. Abebe0Reshma P. Nuri1Jasmine A. Montagnese2Rosemary M. Lysaght3Terry Krupa4Carol Mieras5Yetnayet S. Yehuala6Setareh Ghahari7Dorothy Kessler8Klodiana Kolomitro9Beata Batorowicz10Anushka Mzinganjira11Solomon F. Demissie12Nebiyu Mesfin13Heather M. Aldersey14Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, GondarSchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, KingstonDepartment of Health and Wellness, University of Toronto, TorontoSchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, KingstonSchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, KingstonSchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, KingstonDepartment of Health Promotion, Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada; and Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, GondarSchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, KingstonSchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, KingstonOffice of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University, KingstonSchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, KingstonSchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, KingstonSchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada; and Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, GondarDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, GondarSchool of Rehabilitation Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Queen’s University, KingstonBackground: A needs assessment identifies the differences between actual and ideal situations to facilitate the development of a new programme or improve existing services. Objectives: This article shares our experiences conducting the needs assessment in a context where people had limited or no understanding of the need being assessed. Method: Adhering to a three-phase model – comprising pre-assessment, assessment, and post-assessment – we employed diverse data collection methods, including quantitative survey, qualitative interviews, and environmental scan. Results: The findings underscored the necessity of expanding rehabilitation services in Ethiopia, with a shift from a purely medical focus to addressing issues associated with daily functioning and community engagement. These issues align closely with the core expertise and responsibilities of occupational therapists. Participants expressed support for the introduction of occupational therapy in Ethiopia and willingness to incorporate the practice of occupational therapists in their settings. The challenges encountered were how to ask about occupational therapy when it is not well known by members of the local population and how to introduce the profession without biasing participants’ responses. Conclusion: Conducting a needs assessment was critical to developing occupational therapy services in Ethiopia. We welcome others to learn from our experiences. Contribution: This manuscript details the assessment process and delves into the challenges we encountered and lessons learned. It extends methodological suggestions to inform future evaluations and contributes valuable insights to the broader discourse on needs assessment and programme development in a context where people have limited awareness of services, such as occupational therapy.https://aejonline.org/index.php/aej/article/view/699disabilityneeds assessmentrehabilitationoccupational therapyprogramme development. |
| spellingShingle | Solomon M. Abebe Reshma P. Nuri Jasmine A. Montagnese Rosemary M. Lysaght Terry Krupa Carol Mieras Yetnayet S. Yehuala Setareh Ghahari Dorothy Kessler Klodiana Kolomitro Beata Batorowicz Anushka Mzinganjira Solomon F. Demissie Nebiyu Mesfin Heather M. Aldersey Lessons learned from an occupational therapy programme needs assessment African Evaluation Journal disability needs assessment rehabilitation occupational therapy programme development. |
| title | Lessons learned from an occupational therapy programme needs assessment |
| title_full | Lessons learned from an occupational therapy programme needs assessment |
| title_fullStr | Lessons learned from an occupational therapy programme needs assessment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lessons learned from an occupational therapy programme needs assessment |
| title_short | Lessons learned from an occupational therapy programme needs assessment |
| title_sort | lessons learned from an occupational therapy programme needs assessment |
| topic | disability needs assessment rehabilitation occupational therapy programme development. |
| url | https://aejonline.org/index.php/aej/article/view/699 |
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