Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 3
Now that you have completed this study session, you can assess how well you have achieved its Learning Outcomes by answering the following questions. Write your answers in your Study Diary and discuss them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting. You can check your answers with the Notes on the Self-Assessment Questions at the end of this Module.
SAQ 3.1 (tests Learning Outcomes 3.1 and 3.2)
Why do you think planning your health activities and developing a healthcare plan is important to the health of your community?
Answer
Planning your health activities and developing a healthcare plan is important to the health of your community because it is the only way that you will be able to make sure that all the resources that are available are used properly. Proper planning is an essential part of ensuring that the work of the healthcare team is carried out efficiently and effectively.
SAQ 3.2 (tests Learning Outcomes 3.1 and 3.3)
What is the difference between strategic planning and operational (or annual) planning?
Answer
Strategic planning creates the wider picture and gives an overall direction to health work in an entire region or nation. Operational planning is carried out at grassroots levels by the people who are going to be responsible for the plans in each village or community.
SAQ 3.3 (tests Learning Outcomes 3.3 and 3.4)
What are the steps involved in operational healthcare planning and why are they important to consider when planning your health activities?
Answer
The steps involved in operational healthcare planning include:
- situational analysis (detailing what is the problem)
- problem identification and prioritisation (setting out which problem should be tackled first)
- setting objectives (to decide what needs to be done)
- strategy formulation (to decide how to tackle each of the problems)
- identify and sequence activities (to establish the order in which to tackle the problems)
- identify resources
- prepare action plans and schedules.
Of course all health activities must also be monitored to determine progress.
SAQ 3.4 (tests Learning Outcomes 3.1 and 3.2)
In your village there is a high incidence of malaria. Explain why you might carry out a situational analysis followed by a SWOT analysis to focus on this problem.
Answer
If there is a high incidence of malaria in your village you might carry out a situational analysis to determine exactly what the problem is. This could be followed by a SWOT analysis to focus on the problem. Looking in turn at Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats will help you clarify the problem and point towards possible ways of tackling it.
Summary of Study Session 3