ASSESSING THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL NEEDS OF COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH PROMOTERS

Community-based health promoters require a range of complex skills. As part of its ongoing support to five community-based health promotion programs, the Health Promotion Branch of the Ontario (Canada) Ministry of Health, commissioned a study to identify knowledge and skills need s in these programs and assess whether resources were available to mee t these needs. A Needs Analysis Questionnaire was developed and admini stered to coordinators, staff, board members, and volunteers at 23 hea lth promotion sites. Key informant interviews with site coordinators a nd focus group interviews of site staff board members and volunteers w ere carried out. The needs analysis process is presented, as are illus trative findings. Potential applications of the needs analysis procedu res are considered.