Document Type

Article

Abstract

The Comparative Health Services Evaluation Project (CHSEP) Phase 3 was conducted by the Navajo Health Authority, Division of Health Statistics and Research, for the Navajo Area Indian Health Service (IHS) from July 1976 through June 30, 1977. Through this project and two preceding projects, valuable knowledge regarding health care providers and consumers all over the Reservation of various socioeconomic and cultural levels was obtained. The purpose and goals of the CHSEP was to provide baseline information on health care needs and priorities for the Navajo IHS and to insure better planning and evaluation of its health program in the future. The provider survey instrument was a self-administered questionnaire that utilized yes/no answers. It was designed to solicit attitudes regarding satisfaction with four specific areas and one profile category: 1) Profile category; 2) Quality of Financing; 3) Administration of the Facility; 4) Satisfaction with Financing; and 5) Professional Satisfaction. Information obtained from the consumer survey was done by personal interview on a target population of 79 households that were randomly selected. Several tables and narratives were used to describe the data.The Provider Survey revealed that non-Indian professionals most often held top positions for longer time spans than equally qualified Indian health professionals. Kayenta reported the lowest level of satisfaction in quality care: over 50% of the workers were dissatisfied with the administration. The Gallup area showed the highest level of professional satisfaction with a direct correlation to working in a modern facility. The consumer survey (interview) revealed that transportation, communication, water and waste disposal facilities contributed to limited use of IHS factilities and in some cases, generated health problems.The authors concluded that the providers feel they are a part of a high quality organization that is drastically under funded and under staffed. Funds should by increased to improve facilities and increase staffing at IHS units. Increases in funds, personnel, and facilities should be actively sought from other funding sources, i.e., agreements with universities, special funding sources, etc. There were no specific recommendations for the consumer situation except that Navajo speaking people should continually be used when conducting such surveys.

Publication Date

1977

Publisher

Indian Health Service, Staff Office of Planning, Evaluation and Research, Rockville, MD 20857 (E-22).

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