HCS 542 Research Study Proposal-Part IV: Target Population Selection
Research Study Proposal – Part IV: Target Population Selection
HCS/542
Research Study Proposal Target population is a critical element in any research study or proposal. Health care for the Homeless is key to the rapidly increasing problem that has plagued this country for decades. The inability of health care agencies to effectively reach and treat this population due to inaccessibility and sporadic visits by the individuals themselves has created a wide array of health problems resulting in complications to continuity of care and treatment plans as well as exacerbating any current medical conditions this particular population may have. This paper will discuss how the target population will be selected, sample size, data collection methods as well as the rationale for the identified target population. This paper will also cover the method used for …show more content…
determining appropriate sample size, the rationale for the collection methodology, descriptive and/or comparative statistics as well as statistical tests that can be used to analyze the data.
Target Population In order to identify a target population, several questions must be addressed that cover the basics such as: who will be the recipient of the services and why, identification of the greatest unmet needs, current resources in place that already address such needs, and actual services that are being proposed.
Identification of the greatest of unmet needs within any specific community, county or state should be the basis when determining a target population as this helps to reduce redundant efforts that are already in place. Community needs assessments are an excellent resource and many times the work has already been completed by another party with results readily available as “by law, local health departments are required to conduct a community health assessment every four years. This assessment may include information about county demographic, socioeconomic, educational, and environmental factors that affect health” (nciom.org, pg. 17). Additional health data and vital statistics may also be available by county through local state offices.
Rationale &
Sample Uninsured individuals, individuals without residence, individuals with lower incomes and those with limited English proficiency are more likely to experience barriers to health care access. Conducting a needs assessment therefore will aid in the process of determining a target population. For purposes of this study however, the primary focus will be homeless individuals or those individuals with no documented residence. In order to accurately conduct a needs assessment, information about the county’s population should first be obtained. “This should include the number of people that reside in the county, the number of uninsured individuals, the number of people in poverty, and the number of people who qualify for publicly-subsidized health insurance (Medicaid, Medicare, or Medi-Cal)” (nciom.org, pg. 20). The demographic analysis can help determine the sampling size of the target population, all possible needs of the target population as well as identify any characteristics that may be useful within the study. Additional factors can include projected trends which would include future population trends to help identify needs of the target population that may arise in the future, as well as any socioeconomic factors that would increase the likelihood of individuals living in poverty or without residence, and finally, insurance coverage. “Uninsured individuals typically experience more barriers to obtaining needed health services. One option to address the needs of the uninsured is to identify people who may be eligible for, but are not enrolled in, publicly-funded health insurance programs” (nciom.org, pg. 21). This will provide for outreach opportunities to those individuals who may be eligible for coverage however for whatever reason, simply not utilizing that coverage or accessing services.
Statistics
“In and among communities, environmental factors such as safe and affordable housing and transportation, good air quality, healthy food and safe accessible green space and recreational areas are stronger predictors of good health” (vchca.org, pg. 2).
Individuals without residence are not only less likely to receive preventive care but are typically more likely to go without or delay much needed care which ultimately results in diagnoses that tend to be more severe than those of individuals who have a documented residence and are enrolled in health care coverage. Socioeconomic status is a huge factor for health status indicators. “Americans with lower incomes and educational levels report higher rates of disease, disability, and poor health compared to Americans of higher socioeconomic status” (vchca.org, pg. 1).
Health status indicators that could be examined within the target population could be areas such as: mortality rates, leading causes of death, rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, HIV/Aids, etc. Additional areas could also include mental health and infectious disease including diagnoses such as tuberculosis (nciom.org). A disease such as tuberculosis can be easily spread amongst a population or community where outbreak begins within the homeless community as these individuals tend to congregate in areas that are overcrowded. Therefore, an individual with a cough may not or will not seek medical attention allowing for the disease to spread before the problem has a chance to be eradicated.
Data
“In statistics, a population is an entire group about which some information is required to be ascertained” (nih.gov, para. 5). In order to properly analyze data, the target population must be fully defined. This allows for clear inclusions and exclusions so as not to confuse any of the data once deemed ready for analyzing. “In descriptive studies, it is customary to define a study population and then make observations on a sample taken from it” (nih.gov, para. 7). In the instance of providing health care to the homeless, this population has been defined “in relation to a prominent geographic feature” (nih.gov, para. 7) and therefore, certain health status indicators can be measured through attendance at clinics and hospitals as well as field surveys within the community. Obtaining certain health status indicators may return as incomplete or skewed due to individuals seeking treatment outside of the area or not at all. “Focus group discussions (qualitative study) with local people, especially those residing away from the health center, may give an indication whether serious underreporting is occurring” (nih.gov, para. 9). Methods of sampling can be purposive which equates to non-random sampling which can include: volunteers who agree to participation within the study, quota sampling which is an at will selection of a fixed number from a specific group, or referred cases. Sampling may also come in a random form. “Random sampling is the basis of all good sampling techniques and disallows any method of selection based on volunteering or the choice of groups of people known to be cooperative” (nih.gov, para. 10). This form of sampling would generally not be a good choice for this particular type of study as the “choice of sampling methods is usually dictated by feasibility in terms of time and resources” (nih.gov, para. 12) as well as likelihood and ease of collecting data.
References
Nciom.org. 2015. Health Care Services for the Uninsured and Other Underserved Population. Retrieved from http://www.nciom.org/wp-content/uploads/NCIOM/pubs/safetynet_tam.pdf
Nih.gov. 2015. Statistics Without Tears: Populations and Samples. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3105563/
Vchca.org. 2015. Community Health Status Report. Retrieved from http://www.vchca.org/docs/publichealth/ventura_county_health_status_2011.pdf?sfvrsn=0
HCS/542
Research Study Proposal Target population is a critical element in any research study or proposal. Health care for the Homeless is key to the rapidly increasing problem that has plagued this country for decades. The inability of health care agencies to effectively reach and treat this population due to inaccessibility and sporadic visits by the individuals themselves has created a wide array of health problems resulting in complications to continuity of care and treatment plans as well as exacerbating any current medical conditions this particular population may have. This paper will discuss how the target population will be selected, sample size, data collection methods as well as the rationale for the identified target population. This paper will also cover the method used for …show more content…
determining appropriate sample size, the rationale for the collection methodology, descriptive and/or comparative statistics as well as statistical tests that can be used to analyze the data.
Target Population In order to identify a target population, several questions must be addressed that cover the basics such as: who will be the recipient of the services and why, identification of the greatest unmet needs, current resources in place that already address such needs, and actual services that are being proposed.
Identification of the greatest of unmet needs within any specific community, county or state should be the basis when determining a target population as this helps to reduce redundant efforts that are already in place. Community needs assessments are an excellent resource and many times the work has already been completed by another party with results readily available as “by law, local health departments are required to conduct a community health assessment every four years. This assessment may include information about county demographic, socioeconomic, educational, and environmental factors that affect health” (nciom.org, pg. 17). Additional health data and vital statistics may also be available by county through local state offices.
Rationale &
Sample Uninsured individuals, individuals without residence, individuals with lower incomes and those with limited English proficiency are more likely to experience barriers to health care access. Conducting a needs assessment therefore will aid in the process of determining a target population. For purposes of this study however, the primary focus will be homeless individuals or those individuals with no documented residence. In order to accurately conduct a needs assessment, information about the county’s population should first be obtained. “This should include the number of people that reside in the county, the number of uninsured individuals, the number of people in poverty, and the number of people who qualify for publicly-subsidized health insurance (Medicaid, Medicare, or Medi-Cal)” (nciom.org, pg. 20). The demographic analysis can help determine the sampling size of the target population, all possible needs of the target population as well as identify any characteristics that may be useful within the study. Additional factors can include projected trends which would include future population trends to help identify needs of the target population that may arise in the future, as well as any socioeconomic factors that would increase the likelihood of individuals living in poverty or without residence, and finally, insurance coverage. “Uninsured individuals typically experience more barriers to obtaining needed health services. One option to address the needs of the uninsured is to identify people who may be eligible for, but are not enrolled in, publicly-funded health insurance programs” (nciom.org, pg. 21). This will provide for outreach opportunities to those individuals who may be eligible for coverage however for whatever reason, simply not utilizing that coverage or accessing services.
Statistics
“In and among communities, environmental factors such as safe and affordable housing and transportation, good air quality, healthy food and safe accessible green space and recreational areas are stronger predictors of good health” (vchca.org, pg. 2).
Individuals without residence are not only less likely to receive preventive care but are typically more likely to go without or delay much needed care which ultimately results in diagnoses that tend to be more severe than those of individuals who have a documented residence and are enrolled in health care coverage. Socioeconomic status is a huge factor for health status indicators. “Americans with lower incomes and educational levels report higher rates of disease, disability, and poor health compared to Americans of higher socioeconomic status” (vchca.org, pg. 1).
Health status indicators that could be examined within the target population could be areas such as: mortality rates, leading causes of death, rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, HIV/Aids, etc. Additional areas could also include mental health and infectious disease including diagnoses such as tuberculosis (nciom.org). A disease such as tuberculosis can be easily spread amongst a population or community where outbreak begins within the homeless community as these individuals tend to congregate in areas that are overcrowded. Therefore, an individual with a cough may not or will not seek medical attention allowing for the disease to spread before the problem has a chance to be eradicated.
Data
“In statistics, a population is an entire group about which some information is required to be ascertained” (nih.gov, para. 5). In order to properly analyze data, the target population must be fully defined. This allows for clear inclusions and exclusions so as not to confuse any of the data once deemed ready for analyzing. “In descriptive studies, it is customary to define a study population and then make observations on a sample taken from it” (nih.gov, para. 7). In the instance of providing health care to the homeless, this population has been defined “in relation to a prominent geographic feature” (nih.gov, para. 7) and therefore, certain health status indicators can be measured through attendance at clinics and hospitals as well as field surveys within the community. Obtaining certain health status indicators may return as incomplete or skewed due to individuals seeking treatment outside of the area or not at all. “Focus group discussions (qualitative study) with local people, especially those residing away from the health center, may give an indication whether serious underreporting is occurring” (nih.gov, para. 9). Methods of sampling can be purposive which equates to non-random sampling which can include: volunteers who agree to participation within the study, quota sampling which is an at will selection of a fixed number from a specific group, or referred cases. Sampling may also come in a random form. “Random sampling is the basis of all good sampling techniques and disallows any method of selection based on volunteering or the choice of groups of people known to be cooperative” (nih.gov, para. 10). This form of sampling would generally not be a good choice for this particular type of study as the “choice of sampling methods is usually dictated by feasibility in terms of time and resources” (nih.gov, para. 12) as well as likelihood and ease of collecting data.
References
Nciom.org. 2015. Health Care Services for the Uninsured and Other Underserved Population. Retrieved from http://www.nciom.org/wp-content/uploads/NCIOM/pubs/safetynet_tam.pdf
Nih.gov. 2015. Statistics Without Tears: Populations and Samples. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3105563/
Vchca.org. 2015. Community Health Status Report. Retrieved from http://www.vchca.org/docs/publichealth/ventura_county_health_status_2011.pdf?sfvrsn=0