Freelisting: A Technique for Enhancing the Community Health Needs Assessment

US health systems are required to conduct community health needs assessments (CHNAs). These assessments often rely solely on publicly reported disease prevalence data. The objective of this study was to identify a feasible qualitative method that can be implemented into CHNAs to confirm existing information and enhance them with new data and community narrative. Freelisting interviews were conducted in 2017 throughout a county in Pennsylvania. Individuals listed (1) things that improve health, (2) health problems, and (3) health barriers. Responses were grouped into like terms, Smith’s salience index was calculated for each, subgroup variation was assessed. Community-reported health priorities were identified by salient terms juxtaposed with publicly reported disease prevalence data. 98 respondents throughout the county participated in freelisting interviews. Demographics resembled the population: median age 55, 46% female, 88% Caucasian, 9% uninsured. Salient terms that improve health included: “physical activity”, “healthy eating”, and “health services”. Salient terms describing health problems included: “cardiovascular disease” and “spine and joint disease”. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-reported chronic disease prevalence in the county included heart disease mortality (22% of deaths) and arthritis (26% of adults). Salient barriers to health included: “weight, physical activity, and dietary concerns”, as well as “occupational concerns”. This is in line with 2017 County Health Rankings related to obesity (reported 29%), however, while 10% were uninsured in the community, this was not a salient term. Freelisting can augment and inform CHNAs. In this single-county study, freelisting responses supported publicly available disease/mortality prevalence data and provided insight into community perceptions of health issues.