A Framework for Assessing the Health Needs of Disabled Adult Patients with Autoimmune Disorders and Depression in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Depression remains one of the biggest global challenges, requiring an active approach to tackle it across the different healthcare sectors. Given depression’s widespread prevalence and its association with chronic autoimmune conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, it has been predicted to be one of the significant causes of added disability worldwide and in Saudi Arabia (SA). To address this issue efficiently, organized efforts should be taken, which are proposed in this report as a corporate health needs assessment (HNA). In this study, a framework for a five-step HNA to detect depression among disabled adult patients in Madinah, SA, is proposed that can be used by health policymakers. These steps include getting started, identifying health priorities, assessing a health priority for action, planning for change, and moving on/project review. This proposal should provide a practical stepwise guideline to healthcare policymakers when planning healthcare services in Madinah.