It is necessary to mention that one of the core steps of the clinical needs assessment process is the development of tools and procedures that would be reasonable in a particular situation. Moreover, it is imperative to focus on such aspects as cost-efficiency and reliability. Instruments should be validated to ensure that the data that is received is appropriate, and no complications occur.
An interview will be selected as a primary data collection tool in this case because it has proven to be effective over the years in this industry, and it is the most reasonable approach in this case (Jolley, 2013). It is entirely possible that individuals would be worried about their privacy, and it is necessary to inform them that anonymity will be respected to receive their approval (McIntosh-Scott, Mason, Mason-Whitehead, & Coyle, 2013). The estimated duration of the process is fifteen to thirty minutes because people who are being questioned must have enough time to think about their answers. It is necessary to understand that some difficulties may occur during the process. Moreover, a set of questions in the form of a questionnaire should always be available (Clifford & Gough, 2014). Another aspect that is worth noting is that health care professionals will also be interviewed to get a better understanding of their level of knowledge is sufficient and which improvements are necessary. It is important to note that such aspects as emotions and outcomes of treatment may affect the results, and this issue should not be overlooked (Pol & Thomas, 2012). Moreover, the most attention should be devoted to particular data points that have been previously selected, and a set of questions that have been developed should be utilized in this case.
First of all, participants will be randomly selected. After that, they will be provided with all the necessary information regarding the process. An interview will be conducted with every individual, and the data will be recorded in a particular document during the next stage. Questionnaires will be given out to patients if it is necessary. Moreover, it is important to check if individuals that participated have answered all the questions before completing the process of data collection. The use of these data collection tools and procedure is justified because they are incredibly cost-efficient and do not take too much time in most cases (Offredy & Vickers, 2013).
It would be beneficial to get an understanding of the way this procedure is perceived to identify how the level of satisfaction of patients may be improved and what measures should be taken. Also, it would be important to interview the patients and health care professionals that have experience with this procedure and what aspects they view as the most problematic.
The information regarding age, sex, income, and education will be collected to ensure that all the vital factors are taken into account. Moreover, it can be used to determine which aspects are the most important and would help to increase the satisfaction levels of patients. The age of an individual is of utmost importance in such cases because children require much more attention to guarantee their safety (Sury, 2012). The need to analyze content knowledge is also critical because it is evident that this area may be quite problematic most of the time. Most resources should be devoted to the understanding of possible issues and what course of actions should be taken in such cases.
The individuals will be informed about the purpose of this needs assessment to avoid complications. The data will be collected with the use of interviews and questionnaires in some cases. The answers will be recorded and stored in a safe place to ensure that the level of confidentiality is sufficient. The information that is received will be put in spreadsheets and will be analyzed with the use of computer software such as Microsoft Excel.
It is paramount to understand that several barriers that would limit the ability to collect the data in the agency are always present. For instance, many individuals may think that the process takes too much time and will not agree to participate. Another aspect worth noting is that many people are worried about their privacy and if such data will be disclosed. Also, health care professionals may be worried if their careers and reputation can be affected if they respond honestly. Moreover, anonymity is critical in such situations. The issue is that many may think that it is not legal and not necessary. Also, it is entirely possible that individuals will question whether the information that is collected can be useful.
In conclusion, it is important to note that it may be necessary to validate the data collection tool and approval from a professional may be vital. Moreover, numerous complications could occur during the process, and it is necessary to have an understanding of what measures should be taken to avoid them. Overall, the tools and procedures that have been developed can be viewed as appropriate, and it is not likely that issues related to the validity of the data received will be present.
References
Clifford, C., & Gough, S. (2014). Nursing and health care research (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
Jolley, J. (2013). Introducing research and evidence-based practice for nursing and healthcare professionals (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
McIntosh-Scott, A., Mason, T., Mason-Whitehead, E., & Coyle, D. (2013). Key Concepts in Nursing and Healthcare Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Offredy, M., & Vickers, P. (2013). Developing a healthcare research proposal. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Pol, L. G., & Thomas, R. K. (2012). The demography of health and health care. Berlin, DE: Springer Science & Business Media.
Sury, M. (2012). Conscious sedation in children. Continuing Education in Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain, 12(3), 152-156.