Conclusion

The New South Wales Population Health Survey began as a continuous survey in 2002, following adult health surveys in 1997 and 1998, and an older people's survey in 1999. Most indicators are collected and reported annually but some are collected and reported biennially and triennially. Data are collected on demographics, health behaviours, health status, use of and satisfaction with health services, and social capital. Some of these indicators are highlighted below for people aged 16-24 years.

Trends in health behaviours

Health behaviours influence health and wellbeing. There have been significant changes in some indicators of health behaviour, while other indicators have not changed significantly.

There have been increases in smoke alarms in the home, adequate fruit consumption, smoke-free households, and smoke-free cars.

There have been decreases in risk alcohol drinking, high risk alcohol drinking, consumption of cereals or breads or pasta or rice or noodles, and current smoking.

There have been no changes in adequate vegetable consumption, consumption of lower fat milks, consumption of potato crisps or salty snacks, consumption of processed meat products, and adequate physical activity.

Trends in health status

Monitoring the health status of a population helps detect emerging patterns of illness and disease and provides information to inform health policy and planning of health services. There have been significant changes in some indicators of health status, while other indicators have not changed significantly.

There have been increases in blood pressure measured in the last 2 years, high blood pressure, cholesterol measured in the last 2 years, and obesity (a BMI of 30 or over calculated from self-reported height and weight).

There have been decreases in self-rated health and current asthma.

There have been no changes in ever had asthma, high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood glucose, psychological distress, visits to a dental professional in the last 12 months, and overweight and obese (a BMI of 25 or over calculated from self-reported height and weight).

Trends in health services

Information about the use of health services assists in formulating health policy and health service planning. There have been significant changes in some health service indicators, while other indicators have not changed significantly.

There have been increases in private health insurance, difficulties getting health care, use of public dental services, and use of community health centres.

There have been decreases in visits to a general practitioner in the last 12 months.

There have been no changes in emergency department presentations, hospital admissions, and visits to a general practitioner in the last 2 weeks.

Trends in social capital

Social capital is created from the everyday interactions between people. It is called capital because it can be measured and quantified in a way that can distribute its benefits and avoid its losses. There have been significant changes in some indicators of social capital, while other indicators have not changed significantly.

There have been decreases in people feeling safe walking down their street after dark and visiting neighbours in the last week.

There have been no changes in people attending a community event in the last 6 months, helping out at a local group or organisation in the last 3 months, who were active members of a local organisation or church or club, who felt most people can be trusted, who felt their area has a reputation for being safe, who ran into friends and acquaintances while shopping locally, and who would feel sad if they had to leave their neighbourhood.

The future

The collection and reporting plan for the New South Wales Population Health Survey to 2012 can be found at www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/survey/hsurvey.html. The continued monitoring of indicators via the Survey will provide information to assist health professionals, health service planners and those involved in development of health policy for persons aged 16-24 years.

Tables

Source:	New South Wales Population Health Survey 2007 (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.
Print version:	Although this page can be printed directly from your web browser, a higher quality version is available as a PDF file that can be printed or viewed on screen.
Produced by:	Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.
Last updated on:	1 June 2008