Assessing community needs

Evidence Based Research shows that successful CBR training starts with a community needs assessment, done with the community benefiting from the training. This determines the communities needs, as well as barriers and enhancers to the training.

(below is based on Kester et al.Kester ACM, Kaelin VC. Participatory capacity development: Report of a community-based training needs assessment in Vietnam. World Federation of Occupational Therapists Bulletin. 2021;77(1):40-8)

Starting point demand

Initial information gathering

1

  • see Verify demand and client commitment
  •       see Identify root of problem

2

  • see Identify key stakeholders
  •       see Internal (client)
  •       see External

3

  • see Identify desired capacity

4

  • see Identify current capacity

5

  • see From current to desired capacity
  •       see Discuss and prioritise with client

6

  • see Can training contribute?

7

  • see Specify training needs
  •       see What, how and whom to train?
  •       see Barriers and enhancers to transfer of learning

Below graphic designed by: Hunt M, Ponnusamy R, Goulet A, Anthonypillai C, Muthukaruppan SS, Bharathwaj A, et al. An integrated knowledge translation project to develop, implement, and evaluate a train-the-trainer program at a community rehabilitation program in Tamil Nadu, India. Disabil Rehabil. 2021;43(26):3868-77.

 

(...and an edited option)

All modules are written and proofed by highly experienced senior physios who have collaborated with health workers in many global health backgrounds.

Our ten key conditions to all modules are to:
  1. deliver essential practice
  2. include clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis
  3. emphasise intuitive comprehension
  4. translate into any language
  5. be safe through clinical trialling
  6. be culturally sensitive
  7. include anatomy, physiology and pathology
  8. guide the student safely through all stages
  9. allow flexible lesson planning with cut and paste options
  10. be simple to learn with long term practical uses

We hope you will agree! Yet it is important to add that these modules should only be taught by qualified physios so that instruction is kept simple and rehab needs are properly provided to communities that are without current access to physio services.