174 9. Doto Analysis Data nnalysis is the most crucial stage in community diagnos is. Tt in,. ·olves quant:ificntion. description and dassification of data. Since there are multiple sou. rces of data which were collected using different methods, consistency and v;:ilidity of data can be checked. This is =lied triangi1lation. Data are sorted. classified in terms of relatainess. and interpreted for any significance or implication. TI1is process aims to establish I rends and patterns in tcrrns of health needs and problems of the community. Patterns in terms of human relations. time. and space help the nurse view and ana J:y7,e which are indicators of health problems and which factors give rise to health problems. The magnitude and e.,-tcnt of tl1e problems and their implication can be derived by comparing them wilh standard values or norms. Data analysis sbou. ld be done not only by the nurse or tl1e team conducting the communit y diagnosis. It seems unthinkable that the entire community should be "present during the data analysis. but it can be done. 1t may not be t}1e entire p Dpu lation but representatives oft. l1esectors that comprise the community. The nurse can facilitate a simplified 1malysis using the l'roblern Tree Analysis approach. (WHSMP-PC. 2003) The Problem Tree Amilysis approach looks at health problems in tern1s of their causes and effects.. Just like a tree. \\hat one sees in Lhe condition of lbe leaves and branches (whether they arc healthy or infested '";fh pests) are mnnifestations of the overall state of the plant and caused by what it gets from the soil in terms of nourishment through tb. e roots" Problems indicate that there are factors that cause them. The nurse ond the team can facilitate the participatory process in data analysis by ,mting the data in colored cartolina or constn1ction paper cut into 3 x 12 inches size. Using adhesive tape, post all the cards in one area. In a manila paper or in a board, draw a very big tree that details the leaves, branches, trunk and the roots. The people are the asked to look at the data/informati on ·written in the cards. Have them think which of these can be considered as the main or central problem, the causes and the effects of the problem. l\1ain or central problems should be posted in the trunk; the causes are posted in the roots :md the effects are posted in the branches or leaves. The nurse and the team should encourage the people to give opinions, comments and reactions or seek clarification on what and how the others viewed the data. Facilitate the discussion in order to deepen the analysis by posing question s such as: How are the main or central issues or problems related to one another? Which oftbe problems seem to be the most serious or needing urgent attention? Among tl1e roots of the problem, which are the easiest to address? Which are the most difficult? Which of the effects should not be allowed to continue? What could possibly happen if the nothing is done? What should be done? 10. Identifying the Community Health Nursing Problems Data analysis should lead the nurse and the team to have a better grasp of the community's health situation. Defining the community health nursing problems will help the nurse and the team to decide with the people what actions will effectiv ely address and improve community 's health. Community healt. 11 nursing problems are categorized as: 