Who needs needs?

Journal article

The idea of assessing needs both in individuals and in populations is popular in health and social care, but has serious conceptual shortcomings. The concept of needs does not distinguish between the identification of a problem and its solution. It inhibits a consideration of the probabilities as to how effective various interventions may be in any given case - nor does it reflect the iterative process that is the reality of most health and social care. It does not specify goals and oversimpl...

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Authors: Priebe, S; Huxley, P; Burns, T

• Journal: European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 186-188
• Publication date: 1999-07-01
• DOI: 10.1016/s0924-9338(99)80740-8
• EISSN: 1778-3585
• ISSN: 0924-9338
• Language: English
• Keywords: Humans; Needs Assessment; Mental Health Services; Social Work