Primary data are an improtant part of community health assessment. These data can fill in gaps in secondary data sources, highlight critical issues or concerns, and provide opportunities for community members to actively engage in the community health assessment process
(Listening to the Community). There are a number of different ways to collect primary data, such as focus groups, key informant interviews, and community surveys, among others.
Public Health Accreditation Board standards for local health departments related to primary data include measures 1.1.2 T/L and 1.2.3 A. Resources related to general primary data collection methods, focus groups, key informant interviews, and surveys are provided below.
Resource
| Topic
| Description
| | Listening to the Community's Input: A Guide to Primary Data Collection
| Data Collection
| Addresses the important role of primary data in community health assessments, and provides guidance on key informant interviews, focus groups, community surveys, community forums, and direct observation.
| Selecting Data Collection Methods
| Data Collection
| While this document was prepared for program evaluation, it provides useful information for general data collection. It also describes advantages and disadvantages associated with surveys, in-depth interviews, focus groups, observation, and document review.
| Community Themes and Strengths Assessment
| Data Collection
| Based in the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) framework, this page contains a series of resources and examples regarding community surveys, focus groups, and data analysis.
| Conducting Focus Group Interviews
| Focus groups
| This document, from the USAID Center for Development Information and Evaluation, provides information on the advantages, limitations, and usefulness of focus group interviews, and includes step-by-step guidance to help ensure quality data are collected.
| Conducting Focus Groups
| Focus groups
| This website provides information on when, why, and how to conduct focus groups; in addition, the website provides links to resources on Designing and Conducting Focus Group Interviews and
Guidelines for Conducting a Focus Group, which include sample questions and additional guidance.
| Focus Groups for Program Evaluation
| Focus groups
| This brief from the CDC Evaluation and Research Team provides a basic overview of focus groups.
| |
| Key informant interviews
| Provides an overview on advantages, limitations, and steps in conducting key informant interviews.
| |
| Key informant interviews
| This is an example of a key informant interview guide utilized by the Knox County Health Department. It addresses community themes and strengths.
| |
| Key informant interviews
| Includes guidance on identifying key informants, choosing the type of interview, developing the interview tool, and conducting interviews.
| Conducting Needs Assessment Surveys
| Surveys
| A part of the Community Tool Box, this resource comprehensively answers basic questions about needs assessment surveys: What is it? Why, when, and how should you carry out a needs assessment survey?
| Conducting Surveys
| Surveys
| A part of the Community Tool Box, this resource contains guidance for developing, distributing, and analyzing surveys.
| NACCHO Toolbox
| Surveys
| Collection of resources for local health department, including resources related to community surveys, such as an example health survey, quality of life survey questions, a
multiple choice survey instrument, and many others. Note: You will need to create a username and password to download resources (free!)
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To access the Center for Local Health's homepage, please click the following link: Center for Local Health Homepage
To access the Center for Local Health's Data and QI page, please click the following link:
Center for Local Health Data and QI Webpage
To access the Center for Local Health's Community Health Assessment page, please click the following link: Community Health Assessment Webpage
What are the examples of primary data?
Primary Data Sources. Autobiographies and memoirs.. Diaries, personal letters, and correspondence.. Interviews, surveys, and fieldwork.. Internet communications on email, blogs, listservs, and newsgroups.. Photographs, drawings, and posters.. Works of art and literature.. What are the 5 types of primary data?
Primary Data Collection Methods. Interviews. ... . Surveys & Questionnaires. ... . Observation. ... . Focus Groups. ... . Experiments.. What is primary data and secondary data in healthcare?
Community health assessments typically use both primary and secondary data to characterize the health of the community: Primary data are collected first-hand through surveys, listening sessions, interviews, and observations. Secondary data are collected by another entity or for another purpose.
What are the 3 types of primary data?
There are three main types of primary data collection: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed mode.
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