HESPER SW: A Web-Based Tool to Assess Needs

Abstract

Introduction:

The Humanitarian Emergency Settings Perceived Needs Scale (HESPER) evaluates experienced needs among disaster-affected populations and has been frequently used in both humanitarian emergencies and research. Today, the use of this tool is increasing among people affected by crises and emergencies. Web-based methods have shown to reduce several methodological and practical challenges in disaster health research.

Aim:

This project aims to develop and evaluate HESPER SW (a self-administered, web-based version of the HESPER scale).

Methods:

Alternative reliability and test-retest validity of HESPER SW were evaluated using different analytic statistical methods.

Results:

The first analysis suggests that HEPSER SW is a reliable and valid instrument which is easy to use and that it reduces several methodological and practical challenges in disaster health research.

Discussion:

HESPER SW can be used both for humanitarian and research purposes and offers a quick, self-administered, web-based, and scientifically robust way to investigate experienced needs in populations affected by disasters or humanitarian crises.