Scottish Health Survey

An important resource to help improve the nation's health

Sep 2009 |

About this study

The Scottish Health Survey provides a detailed picture of the health of the Scottish population. It's an important resource that will help the Scottish Government and health practitioners reduce health inequality and improve the nation's health.

You can find lots more information on the Scottish Government's SHeS website.

Potential policy impact

Funded by the Scottish Government, the survey has a direct impact on health policy in Scotland. This record of the population's health and lifestyle over time is used to plan health services provision and monitor progress towards the Scottish Government's health targets.

Methodology

Originally modelled on the Health Survey for England, the Scottish Health Survey was previously conducted in 1995, 1998 and 2003.

Each year from 2008 to 2011 we ask a core set of questions and one of two rotated modules of questions that focus on specific health issues. You can see the core and module questions on the Scottish Government site.

Who we're working with

We are conducting these annual surveys with the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London Medical School and the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit in Glasgow.

Selecting participants

Our trained interviewers visit around 4,500 different households every year and speak to about 6,500 adults and 2,000 children.

Addresses are scientifically selected using random probability sampling to ensure that all households have an equal chance of being selected and the findings are representative of Scotland as a whole.

Some families will be visited a second time by one of our nurses, who will collect clinical measurements and samples.

If you want to find out more about taking part, read our participants page or see the FAQs.