Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

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Surveys on health issues

Surveys about a variety of health issues such as back pain, coronary heart disease, contraception and sexual health.

Back pain

Questions were asked about any back pain people had experienced during the preceding 12 months, help sought and advice given, restrictions on activity, and time taken off work in the preceeding 4 weeks due to back pain.

Contraception and sexual health

Omnibus survey reports on contraception and sexual health

Contraception and Sexual Health, 2003

Published: 29/09/2004

This report present the results of a survey on contraception and sexual health carried out in 2003/04. The report is produced by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the Department of Health and presents the results of the 2003/04 National Statistics Omnibus Survey and also examines any changes in the Omnibus data between 2002/03 and 2003/04.

Contraception and sexual health, 2002

Published: 26/03/2003

This report, produced by the Office of National Statistics on behalf of the Department of Health, presents the results of a survey on contraception and sexual health carried out in 2002/03. It includes an examination of any significant changes in the data between 2001/02 and 2002/03.

Contraception and sexual health 2001

A report on research using the ONS Omnibus Survey produced on behalf of the Department of Health.

ONS Omnibus survey: contraception

Questions were asked on what method of birth control (if appropriate) people used and reasons for choice, changes in methods used, the use of family planning clinics, awareness of emergency methods for use after intercourse has taken place.

ONS General Household Survey - Contraception and sterilisation

The GHS first included questions on contraception in 1983 when they were addressed to women aged 18-49, and to women aged 16-17 who were or had been married. Since 1986, the questions have been asked of all women aged 16-49.

Dental and oral health

Surveys of dental health

Children's Dental Health in the United Kingdom 2003

The survey provides information on the dental health of children in the United Kingdom, measures changes in oral health since the last survey in 1993 and provides information on children's experiences of dental care and treatment and their oral hygiene.

Children's Dental Health in England 2003

Children's Dental Health in Northern Ireland 2003

Children's Dental Health in Wales 2003

Children's Dental Health Survey 2003 topic report 1

Children's Dental Health Survey 2003 topic report 2

Children's Dental Health Survey 2003 topic report 3

Children's Dental Health Survey 2003 topic report 4

Children's Dental Health Survey 2003 topic report 5

Children's Dental Health Survey 2003 topic report 6

Children's Dental Health Survey 2003 topic report 7

Children's Dental Health in the United Kingdom 2003

Overview of surveys on oral and dental health

April 2000.

Adult dental health, 1998

This survey covered oral health in the United Kingdom in 1998, and was the fourth in a series of decennial surveys commissioned by the United Kingdom Health Departments.

National diet and nutrition survey: young people aged 4-18 years, Vol. 2 - Report of the oral health survey

A survey carried out in 1997 of the oral health and diet of young people aged 4-18 living in private households in Great Britain. Information was collected from dietary and oral health interviews, 7 day dietary records, and oral health examinations. The results, in tables with commentary, are mostly presented separately for four age groups: 4-6, 7-10, 11-14, and 15-18. The report includes information about the oral condition of young people, dietary behaviour that affects teeth, and socio-dental behaviour. Results are also presented classified by characteristics such as region and social class.

National diet and nutrition survey: people aged 65 years and over - Vol 2

Published: 01/01/1998

To extend the knowledge gained in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey the participants underwent an oral health assessment consisting of an oral examination by a dentist and a questionnaire-led interview. From these, specific information was gained about the presence of dental caries, the state of dentition and the use of dentures. To place the recorded information in context socio-economic data was collected together with the views of the user on his/her teeth and/or dentures. The results are described for the free-living group then for those living in institutions. Within the text the statistical data is presented in tabular format. Oral health and its relation to well-being, food consumption, systemic health are explores. Ten appendices contain detailed methodology, the procedure in serious oral pathology is found, a glosssary of terms and the documentation used. Stationery Office Publication. No electronic downloadable version of this document is available.

Hearing impairment

Hearing problems are widespread and can lead to social isolation and communication difficulties which can make basic tasks, such as shopping, extremely difficult. In 1992, 1995 and 1998 GHS respondents were asked whether they had any difficulties with hearing and, if so a further set of questions about use of aids followed.

Mobility aids

Questions about difficulties with mobility and the possession of mobility aids were first asked on the GHS in 1993 and repeated in 1996. The section sought information about the proportion of people who had problems with their mobility and whether such difficulties were experienced indoors, outdoors or both. Questions were also asked about whether or not mobility aids were in use, the number and type of aids that people had, and their origins.

Morbidity, general health and use of health services

Overview (May 2000) of surveys covering a range of health-related topics.

ONS General Household Survey - Private medical insurance

The questions were concerned with the type of health insurance obtained through subscription to one of a number of specialist insurance companies (normally called provident associations) and whether cover is provided for private medical treatment in Great Britain. Cover solely for medical care while abroad and insurance exclusively for dental treatment were excluded. A series of questions to identify those people with private medical insurance cover was included in the 1995 GHS. These questions were first asked in 1982 and also in 1983, 1986 and 1987.

Professional organisation of complementary and alternative medicine in the United Kingdom

The Department of Health commissioned the Centre for Complementary Health Studies at the University of Exeter to survey the field. The 1997 survey reported on major and discrete disciplines, and on recently-emerging disciplines and multidisciplinary organisations, and the 2000 survey recounted progress made in professional organisation in this sector since the 1997 report.

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