title: Assessing the health care needs of women in rural British Columbia: development and validation of a survey tool.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To design reliable survey instruments to evaluate needs and expectations for provision of women's health services in rural communities in British Columbia (BC). These tools will aim to plan programming for, and evaluate effectiveness of, a women's health enhanced skills residency program at the University of British Columbia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative design that included administration of written surveys and on-site interviews in several rural communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three communities participated in initial questionnaire and interview administration. A fourth community participated in the second interview iteration. Participating communities did not have obstetrician-gynecologists but did have hospitals capable of supporting outpatient specialized women's health procedural care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community physicians, leaders of community groups serving women, and allied health providers, in Vancouver Island, Southeast Interior BC, and Northern BC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two preliminary questionnaires were developed to assess local specialized women's health services based on the curriculum of the enhanced skills training program; one was designed for physicians and the other for women's community group leaders and aboriginal health and community group leaders. Interview questions were designed to ensure the survey could be understood and to identify important areas of women's health not included on the initial questionnaires. Results were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods, and a second draft of the questionnaires was developed for a second iteration of interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clarity and comprehension of questionnaires were good; however, nonphysician participants answered that they were unsure on many questions pertaining to specific services. Topics identified as important and missing from questionnaires included violence and mental health. A second version of the questionnaires was shown to have addressed these concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Through iterations of pilot testing, we created 2 validated survey instruments for implementation as a component of program evaluation. Testing in remote locations highlighted unique rural concerns, such that University of British Columbia health care professional training will now better serve BC community needs.
authors: 276 Parkvista Cres SE, Calgary, AB T2J 4W8. meghanguy@gmail.com
authors: Meghan
authors: M
authors: Guy
authors: Wendy V
authors: WV
authors: Norman
authors: Unjali
authors: U
authors: Malhotra
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001955:British Columbia; D003150:Community Health Workers; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009726:Nurses; D010820:Physicians; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*