Priority setting of Public Health Problems which Community Health Nurse should know

Abstract

Community diagnosis is an important tool to identify and solve existing problems. Among the problems identified, the most important and pressing issues must be selected and given priority while trying to find ways and means for a solution. As far as public health is concerned suitable organizations and key persons of a community must be addressed. A common consent must be achieved in what problems need to be addressed as a priority and not the view of some private opinions should be solely considered. A popular means for priority setting is the “Criteria Weighting Method of the Public Health Administrative Department, Mahidol University”. The method focusses on 4 elements, namely size of the problem, severity of the problem, feasibility of the problem-solving tools and the concern of the community about the issue. The importance of community participation must be underlined, in that the benefit for the people in the area involved should be given priority. The public should be involved in planning and executing problem solving activities. This article illustrates the concept of priority setting in public health problem solving for health personnel working in and with the community including the community health nurse.