Qualitative and quantitative approaches to needs assessment in mental health: Creating a common currency

Abstract

Purchasers of mental health services are charged with defining the needs of service users and carers as the basis for purchasing decisions. Much needs assessment is currently based on partial application of quantitative techniques and overlooks the benefits of qualitative techniques. This paper explores approaches which produce quantitative and qualitative information on needs and suggests a method by which information from both sources can be brought together into a comprehensive definition of needs.