Gateshead Health & Lifestyle Survey
Synopsis:
The Gateshead Health and Lifestyle Survey (GHLS) took place late in
1996. The main objective of the survey was to obtain a lifestyle profile
of the adult population of the Borough of Gateshead using a
representative sample, so that health inequalities can be more
effectively tackled in future by the Health Authority, Local Authority
and other agencies. The self completion questionnaire was designed
following wide consultation with people from Health and Local Authority
services. In addition to answering local questions about health
inequalities, the survey was also designed to allow comparison with
local and national trends. Key sources in the design of questions were
the 1994 Health Survey for England, 1995 Health in England survey
(published by the Health Education Authority), 1995 Prevalence of
Psychiatric Morbidity among adults living in private households
(published by OPCS), the 1991 South Tyneside Health and Lifestyle
Survey, and the 1995 report on young people’s health in Gateshead and
South Tyneside entitled Signposts to Health. Approval for the survey was
obtained from the Gateshead Medical Ethics Committee.
A sample of just over 6,500 adults aged 16-74 years and resident in
the Borough of Gateshead was randomly selected from the Patient List
Register of Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority. The sample
size was calculated to ensure that there would be enough respondents
representing the unemployed manual working class in Gateshead, in order
to take full account of deprivation. The questionnaire was administered
over a six week period in October to December 1996. The final number who
returned a completed questionnaire, following reminders, was 3720. This
was 57% of the original sample. The response rate varied by age and
ward. The response was lower in younger age groups. The response varied
by ward from 43% in Bede ward to 65% in Winlaton. In order to make
comparisons with national surveys, the data was weighted to overcome the
sampling and response bias in respect of age, sex and ward population,
thus ensuring that the findings were more representative of the local
population.
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For further information please see:
www.gateshead.gov.uk |
