Researching limiting long-term illness

Needs assessment has become one of the cornerstones for commissioning healt h care in the UK but, as yet, no agreed methodological framework exists. Th is study attempts to build on a number of different approaches used in need s assessment in order to formulate a more complex and integrated model. We have taken limiting long-term illness (LLI) as a starting point and examine d its prevalence within the primary care setting in an area of North Staffo rdshire. This was followed by the application of a health status measure on two sub-samples (those reporting LLI and those not reporting LLI), The dia gnostic assessments of the GP was placed alongside the results of the healt h status measure in order to compare self-assessment with the professional perspective. Finally, in-depth interviews with people with LLI were carried out examining their own experience of ill-health. We argue that this detai led and complex needs assessment allows for a more targeted approach to com missioning and service development. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts:reserved.