Speaker
Description
Authors: Katalin Felvinczi (Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem), Ketevan Chanturia (Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem)
Background: Substance use continues to be a significant public health challenge. Effective prevention interventions need to be tailored to the specific needs of target populations. Needs assessment is a critical step in understanding those needs and integrating the information in the process of planning, implementation, and evaluation of prevention programs. This literature review examines the role of needs assessments in guiding substance use prevention strategies, improving their effectiveness.
Methods: This study follows a scoping review approach using open-access academic databases and institutional sources. Included studies focused on needs assessment tools used in public health, substance use, and prevention interventions, and were either published in English, Georgian, or Russian from the year 2000 onwards. Main points of interest were highlighted, including (1) how needs assessments were integrated into intervention design, (2) key components of effective needs assessment tools, (3) the tools and mechanisms currently in use, and (4) the strengths, limitations, and applicability of these tools in diverse settings.
Results: The review identified a range of literature addressing the use of needs assessment in public health and prevention interventions. Initial analysis suggests that approaches vary considerably across settings and populations. The review also gathered and organised recurring themes related to assessment design, implementation, and relevance to intervention planning. The paper anticipates identifying a gap in standardized frameworks that integrate scientific rigor along with the ease to address the specific needs, values, and contexts of communities.
Discussion: These findings underline the importance of structured, context-sensitive needs assessments in substance use and prevention interventions. By identifying both best practices and limitations of currently utilized needs assessment tools, this review aims to inform the development of more effective, and sustainable prevention strategies.
| Conflict of interest | Personal beliefs and advocacy |
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