Definitions & Terminology
Two key concepts are defined in this section.
a. What is a JSNA?
A JSNA is the evaluation of the needs of local populations to inform and guide the commissioning of health, wellbeing and social care services within an area. This assessment allows you to describe and understand the characteristics of the population and identify any unmet need(s) of the local population. A core component of a JSNA is defining the health needs of a population and is described below.
b. What is a health needs assessment?
Health needs assessment (HNA) is an essential tool to inform commissioning and service planning, and can be defined as a systematic method of identifying the unmet health and healthcare needs of a population, and making changes to meet those unmet needs. HNA allows for appropriate targeting of resources, and often involves working in partnership with other agencies, communities and service users. Indeed, HNA can be an excellent opportunity to involve stakeholders in service planning and increase ownership and sustainability. HNA may focus on specific diseases, population groups, procedures or interventions.
[Definition adapted from: The uses of epidemiology and other methods in defining health service needs and in policy development | Health Knowledge]
c. Approaches to JSNAs and HNAs
In practical terms, JSNA and HNA often incorporate elements of all three of the approaches outlined below.
