2016 Volume 5 Issue 2 Pages 154-164
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the techniques employed by public health nurses working for local governments to leverage qualitative data to clarify community health needs.
Methodology: The participants were 12 public health nurses employed by local governments for at least five years, with experience in community health and research. Data were collected through individual interviews on how the participants organized and implemented the activities for a qualitative, descriptive analysis to help identify community health issues.
Results: In the process of organizing and carrying out the activities focusing on qualitative data to clarify community health issues, our study identified three types of techniques: techniques to identify health issues based on qualitative data, techniques to understand health needs in detail by indicating quantitative data based on qualitative data,and techniques to embody high-priority health issues by qualitative analysis in the critical phase.
Observation: The techniques thus identified can be used for the early detection of potential health needs, and for searching for health needs stemming from unidentified causes.
