Overview of key data sources: Health Education Population Survey

Organisation responsible: NHS Health Scotland.

Background and purpose: The Health Education Population Survey (HEPS) monitors health-related knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and motivations to change among the adult population in Scotland. A core element of the work of NHS Health Scotland, and health promotion generally, is to increase public awareness of health-related risk factors and how to make the lifestyle changes necessary to reduce such risks. Health education, information and communications activities seek to influence people's health-related knowledge and attitudes and to motivate and support the process of behaviour change. The main purpose of the survey is to collect the data required to monitor progress towards achieving this aim with respect to a range of priority topic areas. In addition to providing performance monitoring data for the public communications and educational aspects of health promotion, the information collected by HEPS contributes towards the planning and development of future health promotion initiatives.

Survey years / frequency: The survey was first commissioned in 1995. Fieldwork began in March 1996 and is carried out twice yearly (March and September) in mainland Scotland. The survey was suspended for three waves during 1999-2000, resulting in a gap in data collection.

Survey content: The survey includes questions on knowledge, attitudes, motivation and behaviour / health status among adults relating to a range of topics. These include: attitudes towards own health, physical activity, diet, smoking, alcohol, mental health, oral health, drug use and sexual health.

Target population: Adults aged 16 to 74 years living in mainland Scotland.

Sample size: Each survey wave has an achieved sample of approximately 900 people, giving and annual number of achieved interviews of around 1,800.

Response rate: Approximately 70%.

Method of data collection: The survey is administered using computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) and includes a self-completion section for more sensitive information such as mental health, sexual health and drug use.

Smallest geographical unit reported: Scotland.

Availability of results and further information: Reports summarising results from the survey are available from the HEPS page on the NHS Health Scotland website. The HEPS datasets are available from the UK Data Archive.