Utilization (Use) in assessment is best described as indicating which of the following?

• A. The services people are receiving over a period
• B. Normative need
• C. Resources available
• D. Prevalence of disease

Answer: (A)

Utilization focuses on the actual use of health services by people over a specific period. It measures what services are being received, such as dental visits or procedures completed, rather than how much need exists, what resources are available, or how common a disease is. Normative need is the standard of need set by professionals, not the services people are using. Resources available refers to the supply side, not actual usage. Prevalence of disease describes how widespread a condition is, not service use. So the best description of utilization is the services people are receiving over a period.