Use of published self-rated health-impact studies in community health needs assessment

Assessment is a core public health function, but advances in technology, including the ready availability of health profile data on-line, have changed the skill requirements for local health agencies. Instead of creating profiles, local planners might concentrate their energies on conducting community surveys. However, neither the expertise nor the resources are reliably present at the local-agency level. On the other hand, planners in local health agencies can take better advantage of published reports about the impact of emerging risk factors for poor self-rated health. The advantages and disadvantages of making review of self-rated health-impact studies an important element in community health needs assessment are discussed.