Executive summary
Introduction
In 2008, the NSW Department of Health, in conjunction with the 8 area health services, completed the seventh year of the New South Wales Population Health Survey, a continuous survey of the health of people of New South Wales using computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). The main aims of the survey are to: provide information on the health of the people of New South Wales; support the planning, implementation and evaluation of health services and programs in New South Wales.
Prior to the introduction of the continuous survey in 2002, the Centre for Epidemiology and Research conducted adult health surveys in 1997 and 1998, an older people's health survey in 1999, and a child health survey in 2001. The reporting plan for the continuous survey includes an annual report on adult health for the whole state and annual reports on adult health for selected indicators by area health service.
This 2008 Report on Adult Health from the New South Wales Population Health Survey reports the health of residents aged 16 years and over.
The content of the survey was developed by the NSW Health Survey Program in consultation with key stakeholders, area health services, other government departments, and a range of experts within the Department. The survey included: questions used in previous surveys, new questions developed specifically for 2008, and questions developed specifically for some of the area health services. All new questions not previously used were submitted to NSW Health's Population and Health Services Research Ethics Committee for approval prior to use. New questions were also field-tested prior to inclusion in the survey. The instrument was translated into 5 languages: Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese.
Interviews were carried out continuously between February and December. The target population for the adult report was all New South Wales residents aged 16 years and over living in households with private telephones. Households were sampled using list-assisted random digit dialling. When a household was contacted, one person was randomly selected for interview. Information for the report was collected on 10,296 adults.
Health behaviours
In 2008, the New South Wales Population Health Survey collected information on a range of health behaviours including: alcohol and cannabis, cancer screening (breast and cervical), environmental health (usual source of drinking water), immunisation (influenza and pneumococcal), injury prevention (fire safety in the home), nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco smoking (including passive smoking).
Just over one-third of adults (33.8 per cent) engaged in any risk drinking behaviour. Generally, any risk drinking behaviour decreased with age. A higher proportion of males, and adults in rural health areas, engaged in any risk drinking behaviour. A lower proportion of adults in the fifth or most disadvantaged quintile engaged in any risk drinking behaviour.
One in 10 adults (10.0 per cent) engaged in high risk drinking behaviour. Generally, high risk drinking behaviour decreased with age. A higher proportion of males, and a lower proportion of adults in the fifth or most disadvantaged quintile, engaged in high risk drinking behaviour. There was no difference between rural and urban health areas.
Just under three-quarters of adults aged 65 years and over (71.6 per cent) had been vaccinated against influenza in the last 12 months. Generally, vaccination against influenza increased with age. There was no difference between males and females, among quintiles of socioeconomic disadvantage, or between rural and urban health areas.
Just under 6 in 10 adults aged 65 years and over (58.8 per cent) had been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease in the last 5 years. Generally, vaccination against pneumococcal disease increased with age. A lower proportion of males, and a higher proportion of adults in rural health areas and the fourth or second most disadvantaged quintile, had been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease in the last 5 years.
Just over 9 in 10 adults (93.6 per cent) had a smoke alarm in the home. There was no difference between males and females, or among quintiles of socioeconomic disadvantage. A higher proportion of adults in rural health areas had a smoke alarm in the home.
Just over one-half (56.6 per cent) of adults consumed the recommended minimum of 2 serves of fruit a day. A lower proportion of males consumed the recommended minimum of 2 serves of fruit a day. There was no difference among quintiles of socioeconomic disadvantage, or between rural and urban health areas.
Just over 1 in 10 adults (10.2 per cent) consumed the recommended minimum of 5 serves of vegetables a day. A lower proportion of males and adults in the fifth or most disadvantaged quintile, and a higher proportion of adults in rural health areas, consumed the recommended minimum of 5 serves of vegetables a day.
Just under one-half (47.9 per cent) of adults usually consumed lower fat or skim milk. Generally, the proportion increased with age and decreased with socioeconomic disadvantage. A lower proportion of males, and adults in rural health areas, usually consumed lower fat or skim milk.
Just over one-half (55.1 per cent) of adults undertook adequate levels of physical activity, defined as 150 minutes a week over 5 separate occasions. Generally, the proportion decreased with age and socioeconomic disadvantage. A higher proportion of males undertook adequate levels of physical activity. There was no difference between rural and urban health areas.
Just under 1 in 5 adults (18.4 per cent) were current tobacco smokers. Generally, the proportion decreased with age and increased with socioeconomic disadvantage. A higher proportion of males were current smokers. There was no difference between rural and urban health areas.
Just under 9 in 10 adults (89.5 per cent) live in smoke-free homes. Generally, the proportion increased with age and decreased with socioeconomic disadvantage. There was no difference between rural and urban health areas.
Health status
In 2008, the New South Wales Population Health Survey collected information from adults on a range of health status indicators including: health-related quality of life (including self-rated health, difficulty with work or activities, and experience of bodily pain), asthma, cardiovascular disease precursors, diabetes or high blood glucose, mental health (psychological distress), oral health, and population weight status.
Overall, just over 8 in 10 adults (80.2 per cent) rated their health as excellent, very good, or good. A higher proportion of males, and adults in the first or least disadvantaged quintile, rated their health as excellent, very good, or good. There was no difference between urban and rural health areas.
Just over 1 in 10 adults (10.5 per cent) had current asthma. Generally, the proportion decreased with age. More females had current asthma. There was no difference among quintiles of disadvantage or between rural and urban health areas.
Overall, 7.3 per cent of adults had diabetes or high blood glucose. Generally, the proportion increased with age. There was no difference between males and females. A lower proportion of adults in the first or least disadvantaged quintile, and a higher proportion of adults in the first or least disadvantaged quintile and rural health areas, had diabetes or high blood glucose.
Overall, 10.6 per cent of adults had high or very high levels of psychological distress. Generally, the proportion decreased with age, was lower in males and the first or least disadvantaged quintile. There was no difference between urban and rural health areas.
Overall, 58.8 per cent of adults visited a dental professional less than 12 months ago. There was no difference between males and females. The proportion decreased with socioeconomic disadvantage, and was lower in rural health areas.
Overall, 5.1 per cent of adults had all their natural teeth missing. The proportion lower in males and urban health areas, and increased with socioeconomic disadvantage.
Overall, 87.4 per cent of adults agreed with having their water supply fluoridated. There was no difference between males and females. The proportion decreased with socioeconomic disadvantage, and was lower in rural health areas.
Using self-reported height and weight to classify Body Mass Index (BMI), just over one-half of adults (52.9 per cent) were either overweight or obese. More males than females were overweight or obese. Overall, 18.6 per cent adults were obese. There was no difference between males and females.
Health service use and access
In 2008, the New South Wales Population Health Survey collected information on: private health insurance, difficulties getting health care, emergency departments, hospitals, general practices, public dental services, and community health centres.
Overall, 56.9 per cent of adults were covered by private health insurance.
Overall, excluding those who did not need health care, 17.8 per cent of adults had difficulties getting health care. The proportion increased with socioeconomic disadvantage, was lower in males, and higher in rural health areas. The main difficulties were: waiting time for an appointment with a general practitioner, shortage of general practitioners in area, quality of treatment, difficulty in accessing specialists, cost of health services, shortage of health services, transport issues, waiting time for dental services, and waiting time in emergency departments.
Overall, 17.3 per cent of adults presented to an emergency department in the last 12 months. Of these, 77.8 per cent rated the care received as excellent, very good, or good.
Overall, 14.2 per cent of adults were admitted to hospital in the last 12 months. Of these, 88.4 per cent rated the care received as excellent, very good, or good.
Overall, 86.2 per cent of adults visited a general practice in the last 12 months. Of these, 93.7 per cent rated the care received at their last visit as excellent, very good, or good. Overall, 29.2 per cent of adults visited a general practitioner in the last 2 weeks.
Overall, 5.5 per cent of adults attended a public dental service in the last 12 months. Of these, 86.8 per cent rated the care received as excellent, very good, or good.
Overall, 8.0 per cent of adults attended a community health centre in the last 12 months. Of these, 91.8 per cent rated the care received as excellent, very good, or good.
Social capital
The term social capital refers to the relationships and conventions that shape social networks, foster trust, and facilitate cooperation for mutual benefit. In 2008, the New South Wales Population Health Survey included questions on feelings of trust and safety, participation in the local community, and building harmonious communities.
Overall, 71.5 per cent agreed that most people can be trusted, 72.6 per cent felt safe walking down their street after dark, with more males than females feeling safe, and 75.9 per cent felt their area had a reputation for being safe.
Overall, 62.1 per cent of adults visited neighbours in the last week, 82.7 per cent ran into friends and acquaintances when shopping in their local area, and 74.8 per cent said they would feel sad if they had to leave their neighbourhood.
Overall, 55.2 per cent of adults took part in a group sport or physical activity in the last 12 months, and 55.7 per cent of adults took part in a group cultural or artistic activity in the last 12 months.
| Source: | New South Wales Population Health Survey 2008 (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 July 2009 |