Information by Design
Lifestyle Survey Toolkit

Background | About the Toolkit | Why Conduct a Lifestyle Survey? | Practicalities | Lifestyle Survey Methods | Overview of Research Methods | Special Cases | Question Bank | Resource Bank | Sources Of Data On Lifestyle | Frequently Asked Questions | Further Reading | Feedback,  Enquiries and Comments
Name of Lifestyle Survey Who commissioned it?
When?		 Who conducted it?
(if different from commissioners)		 Sample sizes used? Include total mailout size; response rate etc.   Sampling method used? Survey method(s) used? Government Region
Scottish Health Survey Scottish Executive Department of Health; 1998 The National Centre for Social Research and Dept of Epidemiology & Public Health Approx 15,000, 9,047 completed interviews Stratified random; stratified by postcode sector Face to face interviews, written questionnaire used for more sensitive information Scotland
Fife Health and Lifestyle Survey Fife NHS Board; 2001 The Centre for Health and Social Research 4,395 mailout; 51.4% response rate Random sample of 1.5% of population registered
with GP		 Postal, with postal reminders Scotland
Tayside Health and Lifestyle Survey Directorate of Public Health Dr Zelda Mathewson, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and team; 2000   5855 mailout; 3361 returned (57% response rate) Stratified sample by age, gender, geographical area Postal questionnaire Scotland
Tayside Health and Lifestyle Survey Directorate of Public Health Dr Zelda Mathewson, Consultant in Public Health Medicine and team; 2000   5855 mailout; 3361 returned (57% response rate) Stratified sample by age, gender, geographical area Postal questionnaire Scotland
Grampian Youth Lifestyle Survey NHS Grampian; 2001 NHS Grampian 3309 mailout; 76% response rate 10% random sample of students in Yr 1 to 6 Self-completion and follow up group discussion Scotland
Scottish Schools' Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey The Scottish Executive; 2002 Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit, University of Edinburgh 1134 classes from 1550 classes selected participated, class response rate 73%.  Pupil response rate within participating classes was 89% - 23,090 pupils Random sample of local schools Self-completion questionnaire Scotland
Orkney Adult Lifestyle NHS Orkney and Orkney DASAT; 2001 MVA 3441 mailout, 1707 completed questionnaires (50% response rate) Stratified, by age Postal questionnaire, with postal reminders Scotland
Glasgow Youth Survey Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police and Glasgow Alliance; 2003   16 schools were targeted to participate, 9 schools did (56% response rate); 1551 completed questionnaires All primary schools were invited to ‘show interest’, 16 schools did. Self-completion questionnaire completed in classroom
environment; 6 mini focus
groups, 6 depth interviews		 Scotland
NEPHO Health &
Lifestyle Survey		 NEPHO; NEMS Market Research Questionnaires were sent to 11,166 people who had given their consent to be surveyed. Stratified random sample Postal questionnaire, postal reminders North East
Gateshead Health & Lifestyle Survey Gateshead and South Tyneside Health Authority and Gateshead Council; 1996 Health Promotion Service 6,500 mailout, 3720 responses (57% response rate) Random sample from Patient List Register Postal questionnaire, followed by a series of postal questionnaires North East

Blyth Valley Lifestyle Survey

Blyth Valley Council; 2002

Information by Design

1,445 completed interviews

Stratified sample; by ward

Face to face interviews

 North East
Blyth Valley Lifestyle Survey Blyth Valley Borough Council; 2004/05 Information By Design 3,300 face-to-face interview Stratified sample; by ward Face to face interviews North East
Blyth Valley Young Peoples Survey Blyth Valley Local Strategic Partnership; 2004 Information by Design     Focus groups and survey North East
South Tyneside Lifestyle Survey South Tyneside Primary Care Trust in collaboration with local authority and
partner organisations; 2003		 Primary Care Development Centre, Northumbria University 7,500 mailout; 2023 returned (27.3% response rate) Random sample Postal questionnaire North East
Oldham Young Peoples Survey Cottoning On; 2003 Survey designed by ‘Cottoning On’,survey
analysis and report prepared by ‘Third Sector First’ and ‘Centre for Research in Primary Care’, University of Leeds		 2500 questionnaires distributed, 421 returned (17% response) Not specified Self-completion questionnaire North West
Health and Lifestyles in Wirral Health Links – a health promotion partnership between the Local Authority and Primary Care Trusts in Wirral; 2001/2   4,000 mailed, 41% returned completed questionnaires (1,640) Random sample from 3 stratas (ward, gender and 3 age groups) Self-completion postal questionnaire North West
Bolton Health Survey Wigan and Bolton Health Authority, 2001 Public Health Department of Wigan and Bolton Health Authority 5% of total population mailed (10,305), 68% response rate (7,007) Random sample of people aged 18+ who were registered with a doctor Self-completion postal questionnaire North West
Liverpool and South Sefton Lifestyle Survey Not stated Health and Community Care Research Unit 28,000 mailed, 12,600 returned completed questionnaires (45%) Random sample Self-completion postal questionnaire North West
North Cumbria Health Survey Primary Care Trusts in North Cumbria   24,204 people mailed, 71.2% response rate (17,233) 10% random sample of adults registered with a GP Self-completion postal questionnaire North West
Neston & Willaston Lifestyle Survey The Neston and Willaston Well Being Network; 2002 Centre for Public Health Research, Chester University 3928 mailout; 2069 completed (53% response rate) Stratified sample; by age, gender and ward Postal questionnaire North West
Bolton Health and Lifestyle Survey (to be published) Bolton Primary Care Trust, 2007   Not stated Random sample of GP registered residents Postal questionnaire North West
Leeds Lifestyle Survey Leeds Health Authority, 2002 RBA Research 4,301 mailed, 1,788 were returned (41.6% response rate) Random sample based
on age and ward		 Self-completion postal questionnaire Yorkshire and Humberside
A Health and Lifestyle Survey of Young People in the East Riding of Yorkshire The four local Primary Care Trusts, 2002 The Public Health Development Team 11-15 yr olds in 21 schools were surveyed,
4,246 were returned
(approx.10% of resident 11-15 pop)		 Schools were approached
and children volunteered
to participate		 Self completion questionnaire Yorkshire and Humberside
Doncaster Lifestyle Survey       Random sample of residents aged 16-70 registered with a GP Self-completion postal questionnaire Yorkshire and Humberside
Health & Lifestyle Survey Hull PCT; 2007 SMSR Ltd 4,113 Quota sampling Interview or self-completion Yorkshire and Humberside
Bradford Health and Lifestyle Survey Bradford City PCT; 2005 Information By Design 1,569 Stratified random sampling Face to face interview survey Yorkshire and Humberside
Bradford & Airdale Health and Lifestyle Survey Bradford & Airdaile PCT; 2008 Information By Design 6,074 Stratified random sampling Postal survey and interview survey boost Yorkshire and Humberside
Choosing Health? A Consultation on Improving People’s Health in South Yorkshire     730 responses     Yorkshire and Humberside
Health Experience Research Online (South Yorkshire) South Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority, 2002 Atlas Media Group Sample size 2,117 Sample based on postcode area Online questionnaire Yorkshire and Humberside
Health and Lifestyle Survey of Young People Barnsley Children and Young People’s Partnership Board, 2006 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Barnsley PCT 2192 completed questionnaires Questionnaire distributed to Year 10 pupils in all schools in Barnsley Self completion Yorkshire and Humberside
Adolescent Survey Lifestyle Report North Lincolnshire Strategic Partnership, 2004 North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust 92% completion rate – a total of 3290 pupils Questionnaire distributed to all but two mainstream secondary schools in North Lincolnshire, Yrs 7 – 10 Self completion Yorkshire and Humberside
West Midlands Adult Health and Lifestyle Survey West Midlands Partnership for Developing Quality, 2002 MVA 84,600 mailed, 27,870 returned completed questionnaires (32.9%) Stratified sample by age, gender and ward Self-completion postal questionnaire West Midlands
Herefordshire Young Peoples Survey Information not available Information not available Information not available Information not available Information not available West Midlands
West Midlands Asian Lifestyle Survey Director of Public Health Medicine, 2000 Walsall Health Authority 993 mailed, 703 gave interviews South Asian Community – all who participated in 1995 survey Interviews West Midlands
Making our Voices
Heard in Coventry:
A Quality of Life
Survey		 Coventry University, University of Warwick and Coventry Partnership BMG Research 3,000 were targeted, 2,142 were completed
(71.4% response rate)		 Stratified sample by ward Face to face household interviews West Midlands
Worcestershire Regional Lifestyle Survey Worcestershire County Council and other public health organisations, 2005 Worcestershire County Council 17,827 questionnaires were sent out; 6,581 completed surveys, 37% response rate Stratified sample by ward Postal questionnaire West Midlands
West Midlands Regional Lifestyle Survey Public Health Organisation and West Midlands Regional Observatory BMG Research 173,328 mailed, 56,688 were returned completed (33% response rate) Random sample Self-completion postal questionnaire West Midlands
Leicester Lifestyle Survey Leicester City Health Action Zone Gfk NOP Almost 9,500 mailed, 3,340 returns
(38% response rate)		 Random sample drawn from electoral register Self-completion postal questionnaire East Midlands
Southern Derbyshire Health Survey South Derbyshire Primary Care Trust, 2002   Around 4,500 District patient register Self-completion postal questionnaire East Midlands
Nottingham Over 50’s Physical Activity and Lifestyle Survey Nottingham City PCT Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute 4,500 mailed, 2,349 were returned (52.2%) Random sample of people registered with GP Self-completion postal questionnaire East Midlands
Leicestershire County and Rutland Healthy Living Survey Public Health Resource Unit, 2007 4452 questionnaires were sent out;
1758 returned questionnaires –
38% response rate 		GP registered patients Postal questionnaire – postal and online response East Midlands
new Gay Surrey’s Lifestyle Survey – Young Person’s Report 2007, Safety & Security Report 2007   Gay Surrey 2007     Anyone who visits their website On-line questionnaire - ongoing South West
Dorset and Somerset Lifestyle Survey Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority, 2002   12,500 mailed, 7,095 records available for analysis Random sample Self-completion postal questionnaire South West
Somerset Lifestyle Survey Somerset Health Authority, 1997   8,500 mailed, 4,477 records available for analysis Random sample (2.4% of 16-74 population) Self-completion postal questionnaire South West
Southampton
Health and Lifestyle Survey 		Southampton Primary Care Trust in partnership with Southampton City Council, 2006   From a sample of 4682, 1777 questionnaires were completed (ensuring reliable findings for 11 priority areas) Stratified sample by age and ward. Postal questionnaire, with postal reminders South West
West Sussex Lifestyles
of Older People Survey		 West Sussex Public Health Observatory and West Sussex County Council, 2006   165,000 questionnaires – 30% response rate, received 50,000 responses All patients aged 65 or over registered with a GP practice in West Sussex Postal questionnaire South West
West Sussex Lifestyle Survey of 14-15 year olds West Sussex Public
Health Observatory, 2007 		  79% response rate - 5292 responses Questionnaires were sent to students aged 14-15 in 30 schools in West Sussex Self completion South West
West Sussex Lifestyle 16-24 year olds (to be published) West Sussex Public
Health Observatory, 2007 		Not stated 16-24 year olds attending Further Education Colleges
in West Sussex 		Self completion South West
Southampton Women’s Survey Medical Research Council Epidemiology Resource Centre   12,500 women interviewed Random sample Face to face home interview South East
Mid Sussex Lifestyle Survey Mid Sussex District Council and local NHS services Sep/Oct 2006   10991 questionnaires sent out 4042
returned 37% response rate  		 Adults aged 25-64,
randomly selected from people registered with a
GP in Mid Sussex		 Anonymous postal questionnaire South East
Kent and Medway Health & Lifestyle Survey Health Authority and PCT’s 2001 Care for Health Services Studies,
University of Kent		 15958 contacted 8071 completed 51% response rate Random sample 16-74 year olds 1 in 100 and 75 or older 1 in 25 from GP registers postal Postal questionnaire South East
Oxford Health Improvement Survey Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire Health Authority, Oxford Area of Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire County Council 1999   72% response rate Panels stratified by social group – refreshed yearly Postal questionnaire South East
Health and Lifestyle in the Oxford Region Dec 1992 Health Services Research Unit, Dept. of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Oxford 9332 73% response rate 18-64   South East
Health 7 Lifestyles in Four Counties Nov 1998 Health Services Research Unit, Dept. of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Oxford 8889 64% response rate 18-64 registered with GP in the 4 counties South East
Young People Sexual Health in SE Hampshire Former Wessex Region NHS R & D Sexual Health Taskforce 1999 Centre for sexual Research at the University
of Southampton		 804 696 pupils and 108 clinic attendees Representative sample from all relative venues in participating area Structured questionnaire completed under supervision at participating venues South East
Teenage Lifestyle
Survey		 Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust and Hertfordshire County Council, 2006 Response of 4000 questionnaires 4000 students in Year 7,8,9 and 10 across all but one of the schools in Hertfordshire Self completion East
The Sodexho University Lifestyle Survey   Sodexho and The Times Higher Education Supplement 2005 Professor Stuart M.Sanderson (Applied Strategic Management and Associate Dean, University of Bradford) and Anna Fizackerley (reporter at the Times Higher Education Supplement) 2172 First to sixth year of studies at 112 Higher Education Institutes On-line National
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