Assessing the need for a needs assessment.

Needs assessments are conducted with the expectation that the information obtained will be used to make rational decisions. However, appropriate planning and service delivery decisions do not always flow from needs assessment information. Assessment of the anticipated utilization of needs assessment data, and evaluation of the appropriateness of these uses prior to conducting a needs assessment may prevent inefficient use of resources. The present study evaluated the willingness and ability of community mental health leaders to use needs assessment data. A structured interview was developed which tapped into several dimensions relevant to the evaluation of the need for a needs assessment. The most striking result was that when asked how they would use future needs assessment data, all respondents indicated that the results would not influence service delivery patterns. Strategies to facilitate the constructive use of information gained from needs assessments are discussed.