ESDS Government

Usage of the Health Survey for England

This page contains information from users who have downloaded the HSE data and who have agreed to have their project information shared. You can opt to be included or to amend the details held for you by changing your project registration.

• Econometric obesity project – Mr Maximillian Morrison (Birkbeck College – ems). January 2013

  The project is on Obesity and poverty. I would like to run an OLS (ordinary least squares regression) analysis from roughly 1990-2012. I would prefer this dataset to be broken down by BMI (dependant variable) and gender, income, ethnicity, socio-economic status, physical activity, diet, etc; (independant variables).

• Food consumption data for derivation of C4SL soil screening levels – Mr Simon Firth. January 2013

  These data will be used in the project 'Development of Category 4 Screening Levels for Assessment of Land Affected by Contamination'. Consumption rate data will be used in the "Contaminated Land Exposure Model" (CLEA) to derive the soil screening levels. These screening values will be publicly and freely available to help assess the risks from land contamination in England and Wales.
  Other surveys used: EFS.

• Assignment – Mr Mohammed Adamson (University of Glamorgan – GIS). December 2012

  Accuracy assessment for change detection is particularly difficult due to problems in collecting reliable temporal field-based data sets. Thus much previous research on change detection did not provide a quantitative analysis of the research results. Standard accuracy assessment techniques have been developed mainly for single-date remotely sensed data. Previous literature has provided the meanings and calculation methods for these elements (Congalton; Oderwald; and Mead 1983; Congalton 1991; Janssen and van der Wel 1994; Kalkhan; Reich; and Czaplewski 1997; Biging et al. 1999; Smits; Dellepiane; and Schowengerdt 1999; Congalton and Plourde 2002; Foody 2002; Congalton and Green 2008). The error matrix-based accuracy assessment method is the most common and valuable method for the evaluation of change detection results.

• Gender Identity and Relative Income within Households – Professor Marianne Bertrand. December 2012

  I am documenting the distribution of relative income within couples. This distribution is shown to have a sharp cliff to the right of where wives earn the same amount as their husband. I am interesting in looking into whether the distribution of relative heights within couples shows a similar cliff.

• Smoking inequalities – Professor Ken Judge (University of Bath – Health). November 2012

  Analysis of trends in inequalities in smoking related behaviour using different measures of socio-economic position to establish a baseline for potential linkage to policy events and to undertake comparisons with other European countries.

• Overweight and Obesity in English schoolchildren using International Cut Off points – Mrs Rachel Jackson Leach. November 2012

  We have analysed the surveys in the past using the IOTF cut off points for children we would like to update our data with comparable 2010 figures. These figures will be used in tables and charts on our data portal.

• Clustering of unhealthy behaviours over time: an empirical assessment using HSE – Dr MARCELLO MORCIANO (University of East Anglia – MED). November 2012

  Using data from the Health Survey for England (HSE) I examined how lifestyle risk factors (like smoking, excessive alcohol use, poor diet and low levels of physical activity) are distributed among the population and how this distribution has changed over time.

• Disability-induced employment penalties: explaining trends 1998-2010 – Dr Victoria Wass (Cardiff University – cardiff business school). November 2012

  The GHS 1974-2004 shows a generally widening employment gap between the disabled and non-disabled working age population at least until the turn of the century. More recent evidence from the LFS suggests that the gap is narrowing but no evidence from GHS since 2006 is available and there are signs (Baumberg 2011) that the GHS and LFS show different trends. The purpose of this study is to chart and unpick this recent trend. In order to extend this trend until the present day we need access to the General Lifestyle Survey. We will treat the data as cross-sectional data to aid comparability to the earlier GHS, looking at the rates of disability and the employment penalty associated with it. Once we have established the trends we will consider explanations for this including: 1.Observable characteristics of the groups may have changed (education, age etc); 2.Size and composition of the disabled group may have changed (condition, severity of disability); 3. Employer treatment of the disabled may have changed (DDA etc); 4.Changes incentive to work (disability benefits/tax credits etc). We intend to estimate a probit model which would enable us to control for (1) and possibly (2).
  Other surveys used: LFS.

• A population-based study of health-related quality of life five years after TIA and stroke – Dr Ramon Luengo-Fernandez (University of Oxford – Public Health). November 2012

  To compare the quality of life, as derived from the EQ-5D, from stroke and TIA patients identified in the Oxford Vascular study, to a representative sample of the English population. The representative sample of the UK population will be derived from patients in the 2006 Health Survey for England.

• Composite Chronic Disease – Miss Eleanor Evans (Office for National Statistics (ONS) – Disability and Health Analysis - ONS). November 2012

  To calculate a measure of composite chronic disease for males and females for use in International Comparisons. This work is in collaboration with the American National Institute of Health contributing towards US Healthy People 2020.
  Other surveys used: SHES.

• Epdiemiological Modelling of Physical Activity – Dr Jonathan Minton (University of Sheffield – Health Economics and Decision Sciences). October 2012

  To find individual level data for use in a simple model for simulating the effectiveness of different types of physical activity intervention. This will involve starting with an accurate distribution of baseline levels of physical activity for the adult population in England, then using other sources of data to simulate the effect of increasing physical activity levels on mortality rates conditional on baseline levels of physical activity.

• Social Outcomes of Learning – Mr Anthony Clarke. October 2012

  A request from the OECD for data on health behaviours and outcomes. Specifically, they are interested in data on BMI, smoking and alcohol intake, along with data on age, gender, educational attainment and household income.

• Demonstration of Online Multidimensional Analysis – Mr Andrew Naish. October 2012

  Space-Time Research will be using this data as a software proof of concept for prospective customers who require tools to expedite statistical analysis and dissemination.
  Other surveys used: LOS.

• Family structure; work patterns; physical activity; sedentary time and CVD risk factors in the 2008 Health Survey for England – Professor Russell Jago (University of Bristol – School for Policy Studies). October 2012

  The aim is to examine how that family structure and work patterns are associated with physical activity, sedentary behaviours and cardiovascular risk factors among adults in the 2008 Health Survey for England.

• Objective and subjective health – Dr Vincenzo Carrieri (University of Essex – ISER). October 2012

  Performing an Econometric analysis to identify biases in self-assessment of health conditions using objective health indicators and biomarkers as benchmark and relating measured bias to use of health care services in the United Kingdom.

• Older people's health and wellbeing – Dr Iain Lang (Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry – PenCLAHRC). October 2012

  I will use this data in the course of epidemiological work focused on the health and wellbeing of older people. I am particularly interested in examining changes in the health and wellbeing of older people over time using both longitudinal and cross-sectional data.
  Other surveys used: BSA.

• Long term conditions prevention strategy modelling – Dr Claire Ginn. October 2012

  DH analysts are working on looking at the impact of risky health behaviours on prevalence of long term conditions and developing forecasting and intervention models to see whether strategies are likely to have an impact on the prevalence of conditions and the occurrence of co-morbidities.

• Evaluation of Nutrition Policies – Dr Mario Mazzocchi (University of Reading – m.mazzocchi@rdg.ac.uk). September 2012

  Data analysis within the EC Eatwell Project. Using data from various sources (LCF, EFS, NFS, HSE) and methods for the evaluation of policy impacts, a selection of UK nutrition policies is being evaluated.
  Other surveys used: EFS.

• Research – Dr Richard Feltbower (University of Leeds – Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics). September 2012

  To compare results with cancer survivorship QoL data from cross-sectional data derived following a postal questionnaire distributed to survivors of cancer in England. Specific results which will be compared will relate to EQ5D QoL data.

• Health Assessement of the New Deal for Communities Project – Mr Pierre Walthery (University of Manchester – Cathie March Centre for Census and Survey Research). September 2012

  The purpose of this project is to assess the New Deal for Communities programme, specifically to study the relationship between intervention types, contextual factors such as relative deprivation, employment trajectory and selected health behaviours, health outcomes, and social determinants of health over time.

• New psychometrics - Exploratory bifactor analysis – Dr Tim Croudace (University of York – Health Sciences). July 2012

  I would like to access this data to perform exploratory and confirmatory bifactor analysis of ordinal response mood and feelings questionnaires in population samples, using modern IRT methods and free analysis software.
  Other surveys used: NCDS USOC APS SHES.

• Spectacle use in UK – Dr Holly Price (Anglia Ruskin University – Vision and Hearing Sciences). July 2012

  I would like to ascertain how many induviduals were wearing spectacles at this survey to help with a publication of a population based survey recently where we collected data on spectacle use in the UK.

• Research and education – Mr Stephen Adshead (University of Essex – School of health and human sciences). July 2012

  Compiling local authority statistics in relation to mental health prevalence and outcomes. This information could be useful to local health and wellbeing boards, CCGs etc. Initial use will be as a poster presentation at a conference on public health.

• Economic Analysis – Dr Keshab Bhattarai (University of Hull – Business School). July 2012

  This study aims to find out the impact of taxes and spending on consumption, labour supply and saving behaviours of households in UK. Cross section study is aimed to support the general equilibrium model.
  Other surveys used: APS FES SURVEY OF PERSONAL INCOMES; 2007-2008: PUBLIC USE TAPE SURVEY OF PERSONAL INCOMES; 2006-2007: PUBLIC USE TAPE.

• Effects of the Licensing Act 2003 on Mental Health Problems – Dr Maria Navarro Paniagua (Lancaster University – ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT). July 2012

  The aim of the project is to analyse the effect of the Licensing Act 2003 on Health Problems. The Licensing Act allows pubs to open and serve alcohol after 11pm and this is likely to have negative effects on individuals' health.
  Other surveys used: BHPS LFS FES Vital Statistics.

• Lifecourse and (epi)genetic epidemiology – Dr Snehal Pinto Pereira (UCL – Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit). July 2012

  This project is examining associations between obesity, lifestyles and health (with a focus on cardiovascular risk factors). The research aims to (i) inform policies tackling social inequalities in health, by investigating the role of active lifestyles and obesity; (ii) contribute to understanding of environmental and (epi)genetic influences on disease risk in mid-life. A substantial proportion of the British population is now at risk of obesity-related ill-health. Policies to halt the rising trend in obesity are important, but action is needed simultaneously for the generations already affected. A key public health priority is therefore to minimise obesity-related health consequences.
  Other surveys used: NCDS.

• Teaching social statistics – Professor John MacInnes (University of Edinburgh – Sociology). July 2012

  Analysis and reporting of microdata for use in the teaching of social statistics to undergraduate and postgraduate university social science students. This includes both reporting the results of the analysis of data as examples of the good use of data and the identification of microdata suitable for use by students where there is no risk of disclosure or breach of confidentiality. The issue of measuring sexual identity is an excellent example for teaching students about the social construction of data. I would like to have access to the SL version of the IHS dataset to have access to the sexual identity variable, in order to produce frequency distributions of this variable correlated with: Gender, Broad age group (approx ten year age bands), Major region (Greater London and the standard UK regions), Ethnicity, Religion.
  Other surveys used: IHS APS.

• Low income communities in London vs. national survey populations in the UK – Dr Gemma Phillips (University of East London – Institute for Health and Human Development). June 2012

  Aim of the analysis is to compare the population of the Well London programme/trial (see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2713231/pdf/1471-2458-9-207.pdf), which is based in low income and disadvantaged communities in London, to nationally representative survey populations on key social and health characteristics and outcomes.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Statistical Modeling of Performance Indicators – Dr Paul Hewson (University of Plymouth – School of Mathematics and Statistics). June 2012

  Continue study on longitudinal trends in road safety performance. We wish to determine whether injury burden is shared in the same way over time with respect to different injury groups and develop suitable, modern, statistical models to study this.

• Ethnic minority health – Miss Alison Moody (UCL – Epidemiology and Public Health). June 2012

  To examine ethnic differences in subjective and objective health measures, in particular blood analyses. This is to draft journal articles about whether thresholds for identifying people at risk or poor health outcomes should be identical for all ethnic groups.

• Exploratory analysis of relevance to social care research – Dr Shereen Hussein (King's College London – Social Science; Health and Medicine). June 2012

  Initial exploration for potential use in relation to social care research including labour market and workforce participation, social care workforce well-being, migration and care work and long term care needs among older adults.
  Other surveys used: LFS.

• Activities – Mr Colin Fisher. June 2012

  To understand the role of walking in health. Sport England excludes walking from its coverage which, since it is by far the most common form of physical activity, represents (potentially) a major policy failure in provision. Footpaths are cheap, sporting arenas are expensive.

• Health in East of England – Ms Victoria Peacey (Department of Health – East of England Public Health and Social Care Directorate). June 2012

  Analysing data to look at health behaviour and public health in the East of England for the region's Public Health and Social Care Directorate. Comparing findings with national figures and looking for trends among subgroups.

• Master's student project – Dr Oyinlola Oyebode (UCL – Epidemiology and Public Health). June 2012

  I am supervising a Master's student who is looking at the outcomes of depression and overall quality of life after stroke/ heart attack. She is using data from over 65s collected in the 2000 and 2005 Health Surveys. I am downloading the data in order to be able to give her support and to check her results.

• Obesity research project – Dr Alan Marshall (University of Manchester – CCSR). June 2012

  This project uses data from the Health Survey for England to examine a number of obesity research questions including: How are levels of obesity changing over time and place? How does the relationship between BMI and height vary over time.

• Longterm Care Model – Mr Chris Harwood. April 2012

  The plan is to produce a model of long term care for Wirral local authority. This will require some assessment analysis of disability and dependence from the General Household Survey. The aim is to assess the health and social care needs of the current and future population for Wirral. The objectives include: current and future prevalence of disability and dependence, assessment of health and social care needs (community and clinical care, residential and nursing care), assessment of housing needs and disability / dependence (sheltered housing / floating support.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Analysing (Spirometry defined) COPD by occupation – Mr Kevin Shepherd. April 2012

  The aim is to use the dataset to analyse (Spirometry defined) COPD by occupation. In the Statistics and Epidemiology Unit at HSE we have looked at the pooled 1995, 6, 7 and 2001 datasets (for those age 35 and above) to see if there are occupational effects after allowing for other relevant factors (including age, smoking, asthma etc).

• Changes in prevalence of associated cardiovascular risk factors among hypertensive patients from 1998 to 2006 – Dr Ajay Gupta (Imperial College London – Clinical Trial Unit). April 2012

  I'll be comparing the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among hypertensive patients, in 1998 and 2006 surveys, and also compare them with the data from the clinical trials such as ASCOT.

• Health and Economic Conditions Project – Dr Alison Copeland (University of Durham – Geography). April 2012

  We are working on a project around health and economic conditions over time, exploring how health changes in recessions/boom periods, using the health survey for England data to monitor health status, age, sex and other socio-economic variables.

• Weight and obesity trends – Dr Hans Crombag (University of Sussex – Psychology). April 2012

  The purpose of the data is to better understand and characterize changes in average weight and BMI over the past 10 years. The analyses are solely intended to be presented in a planned grant submission to the BBSRC on the topic of feeding, memory and ageing.
  Other surveys used: ADULT PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY SURVEY; 2007 NATIONAL DIET AND NUTRITION SURVEY; 2008-2010.

• Uk-born ethnic groups and CVD risk factors – Miss Prachi Bhatnagar (University of Oxford – Department of Public Health). April 2012

  We aim to further understand the relationship between CVD risk factors in UK-born ethnic minorities, particularly environmental and behavioural risk factors.

• Research on March of Atopy and MAUP – Mr Nick Bearman (University of Exeter – ECEHH). March 2012

  This data is being used to research the presence of the March of Atopy, the progression from childhood eczema, food allergy and asthma to adulthood asthma. It will also form part of a study looking at MAUP (Modifiable Area Unit Problem) when the trends are compared with data at other spatial aggregations.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• NICE public health guidance obesity – Dr Nigel Armstrong. March 2012

  To provide data for an individual level simulation for an economic analysis of obesity interventions for the NICE Public Health Guidance. Managing overweight and obesity among children and young people, lifestyle weight management services AND Managing overweight and obesity among adults, lifestyle weight management services.

• Multiple health behaviours – Dr Gareth Hagger-Johnson (UCL – Epidemiology and Public Health). March 2012

  The association between multiple health behaviours and health outcomes in UK cohort studies.
  Other surveys used: LSYPE SHES.

• Mental health; happiness and well being geographies – Dr Nicola Shelton (UCL – Department of Epidemiology and Public Health). March 2012

  An investigation of the spatial variation in and environmental determinants of happiness and unhappiness. In order to map the spatial variation in levels of GHQ-12 and WEMWBS small area level data indicators are required to link other data such as the place survey. This requires LADs for mapping and OAC for logistic regressions and ward for data linking to other data such as the place survey.
  Other surveys used: UKHLS TimeUse APS.

• Community Knowledge Profiles – Mr David Leather. March 2012

  We are currently working on updating and adding to the range and content of the our Sheffield Community Profiles which were commissioned to identify the key experiences, views and aspirations of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities, particularly with regard to community cohesion and the provision of education, housing, health, policing and other services in the city. We are also expanding our work to cover non-BME grounds, such as people with learning disabilities, lone parents, carers etc and so would like to get similar information for these groups.
  Other surveys used: CARERS APS.

• CMO report on multiple risk factors over time – Miss Alison Moody (UCL – Epidemiology and Public Health). March 2012

  I am aiming to get the most complete dataset available in order to look at multiple risk factors including alcohol consumption. The dataset I already have access to doesn't provide all the variables I am expecting from looking at the questionnaire.

• HSE mortality – Miss Alison Moody (UCL – Epidemiology and Public Health). March 2012

  To look at health, lifestyle and various other socio-economic predictors of mortality in England. To investigate how and why mortality rates have been changing over the last 18 years.
  Other surveys used: SHES.

• Change in age-specific health status over time – Dr Jennifer Mindell (UCL – Epidemiology and public health). March 2012

  I plan to compare sex- and age-specific health status in HSE 1991/92 with HSE 2010; for example longstanding illness and self-reported general health; as there is a governmental assumption that age-specific ill-health is remaining constant despite large increases in life expectancy.

• Evaluation of disability estimates from relational models – Dr Alan Marshall (University of Leeds – Geography). February 2012

  I will use this data as part of a paper that compares estimates of disabilty for districts in the Scottish household survey to my own model estimates that combine census and survey data.
  Other surveys used: SCOTTISH HOUSEHOLD SURVEY; 2001-2002 SCOTTISH HOUSEHOLD SURVEY; 2001-2002: LITE VERSION LOS.

• Use of British Crime Survey - Staffordshire – Dr John Ambrose (Staffordshire University – Geography). February 2012

  This is for a quality of life survey indicator - one of several datasets to be used eventually.

• Comparison with our data on EU funded project – Ms Lesley Patterson (University of Manchester – Manchester Urban Collaboration for Health). February 2012

  We are the principle investigators for a large project, EURO-URHIS 2, gathering health indicator data. We wish to compare our findings from our adult survey work with other data sources
  Other surveys used: IHS.

• Ambulance Service Planning – Mr Philip Wilkinson. February 2012

  I am producing a document showing population demographics for the area covered by my employing Ambulance Trust as an aid to planning. The Health Survey for England 2006 contains the most up to date information on disability figures I've found.

• UK's cocaine and heroin markets – Dr Priscillia Hunt. January 2012

  This study aims to improve estimates of the size of the cocaine and heroin markets in the UK. The key element is to utilise data on the extent of use by treatment and prison populations. It is hoped this will support policy decisions regarding where to target resources and will provide a wide range of service providers with information regarding emerging markets.
  Other surveys used: BCS ADULT PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY SURVEY; 2007 ARRESTEE SURVEY; 2003-2006 OFFENDING; CRIME AND JUSTICE SURVEY; 2003-2006: LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS DATA SMOKING; DRINKING AND DRUG USE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE; 2009 SMOKING; DRINKING AND DRUG USE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE; 2010.

• Health utility impact of iatrogenic disease – Dr Chris Poole (Cardiff University – Primary Care and Public Health). January 2012

  The study will examine the quality of life impact of adverse effects of chronic medication usage using the EQ-5Dindex (applying the UK tariff [Dolan; 1997). Responses to the 2008 Health Survey for England will be examined for the intersection between symptoms suggestive of AEs and exposure to individual medications. Multivariate regression will be used to adjust for standard confounding variables such as age; gender, socioeconomic status, and co-morbidity.

• Background context – Mr Blaise Egan. December 2011

  Essex Humanists are a group of people in Essex, and in some cases beyond, who have no religious faith but support the principles of Humanism, including an approach to life based on humanity and reason. We want to track statistics on religious belief in the United Kingdom as part of our 'background knowledge'.
  Other surveys used: BSA IHS.

• Population Norms for the EQ-5D – Dr Mathieu Janssen. December 2011

  The aim of the updated POPS booklet 2011 project is to produce a comprehensive catalogue on featuring population health norms and disease burden based on the EQ-5D. Components of the proposed project and subsequent booklet publication are summarized as follows: 1. Review, presentation, and discussion of background, methods (including review and selection of surveys), and key summary results (structured by 3 main types of results detailed below). 2. Self-reported health, reported problems by 5 dimension, VAS ratings (by country, age, gender). 3. EQ-5D index (by country, age, gender) for and value sets used to calculate EQ-5D index values.

• Retirement and Health – Dr Eduardo Fe-Rodriguez (University of Manchester – Health Methodology Research Group). December 2011

  In this programme of work I am trying to identify the effects of retirement on health, mental health and health care utilisation. I use discontinuity designs in order to identify the treatment effect.
  Other surveys used: NFS TimeUse EFS.

• Equality and Housing in the UK – Mr Nicholas Pleace (University of York – Centre for Housing Policy). November 2011

  A study reviewing existing research and datasets to look at inequality and its relationship with housing. This will include looking at the associations between housing pathways and ethnicity, culture, gender and disability.
  Other surveys used: LFS.

• Semi-parametric estimation – Dr Declan French (Queen's University Belfast – Management). November 2011

  We will apply the characteristic-based semi-paramteric estimator of Connor Hagmann and Linton (Econometrica, 2011 forthcoming) to English mortality data with the intention of developing an explanatory mortality forecasting model. The characteristics will be based on Health Survey for England data by single age.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Obesity eLab – Mr Ian Dunlop (University of Manchester – School of Computer Science). September 2011

  Secondary survey analysis for the obesity elab. This involves studying the metadata via the methodbox.org website and is done in conjunction with CCSR and north west ehealth.
  Other surveys used: FRS.

• Economic Modelling – Dr Keshab Bhattarai (University of Hull – Business School). August 2011

  I have been working on the general equilibrium modelling and eocnometric analysis for UK and other countries for more than ten years.
  Other surveys used: LFS BCS APS EFS IIS NTS EHS.

• Well-being and inflation – Professor David Bell (University of Stirling – Economics). July 2011

  This study is intended to examine the trade-off between unemployment and inflation measured in terms of their respective effects on well-being. It will mainly focus on the Euro barometer datasets to develop consistent estimates of the impact of unemployment and inflation on the well-being of the citizens of different European countries.
  Other surveys used: EFS SHES SSA LFS BHPS.

• Calculation of Health Expectancies – Mr Andrew Yeap (Office for National Statistics (ONS) – Centre for Health Analysis and Life Events). July 2011

  Calculation of health expectancies on a national and sub-national level. Users and stakeholders include the Deparment of Health; the Department for Work and Pensions; and various health-related organisations across Great Britain.
  Other surveys used: NICHS GHS WHS BSA FRS SHES EHS NORTHERN IRELAND HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELLBEING SURVEY; 2005-2006 SILC LIW.

• Replication and extension of Felitti et al. (1998) – Dr Michael Daly (University of Manchester – Psychology). July 2011

  This project aims to test the relationship between retrospectively assessed household dysfunction and parental maltreatment and adult health. In addition, it aims to test if the role of household dysfunction and parental maltreatment can be separated from differences in childhood socioeconomic status and health.
  Other surveys used: NCDS BCS70 ELSA MCS ADULT PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY SURVEY; 2007 Omnibus BEHAVIOUR FOR WELL-BEING; ENVIRONMENT AND LIFE; 2010 NATIONAL EVALUATION OF SURE START; 2003-2007.

• Investigation of child growth – Ms Yuni Choi. June 2011

  We are working on a project to study worldwide between-population differences in height growth in healthy children and adolescents based on most recent data (e.g. collected since 1990 or published since 2000).

• Mean scores for the general health – Dr Anju Devianee Keetharuth (University of Sheffield – ScHARR). June 2011

  Data will be used to calculate average population's health by age. This will be used in a project being undertaken by the Policy research Unit for Economic Evaluation of Health and Care interventions.

• Spatial trends in obesity and correlates of obesity – Dr Alan Marshall (University of Leeds – Geography). June 2011

  This project examines spatial trends in obesity and correlates of obesity using data from the Health Survey for England (1991-2009). The initial focus is on the 'North-South divide' moving on to specific areas and area types later in the project.

• To assess the evidence for and against 'the hardening hypothesis' in respect to smoking in the UK population between 2000 and 2009 – Mr Graeme Docherty (University of Nottingham – Epidemiology & Public Health). June 2011

  The data will be analysed as part of a study to assess whether the decrease in smoking prevalence in the UK between 2000 and 2009 has left a higher proportion of smokers who are more resistant to quitting, in other words 'hardened' smokers. There is evidence for and against this theory from other countries but no recent study has been undertaken using UK data. The study will be undertaken by investigators at the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies based at the University of Nottingham and will be in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Queensland and Cancer Council Victoria in Australia.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Effects of Panel Conditioning on Self-Reported Weight – SC Noah Uhrig (University of Essex – ISER). June 2011

  This research examines the role of panel conditioning in self-reported height and weight. I will be comparing HSE data to self-reported data from Understanding Society Innovation Panel. Visibly I would like to examine whether the link between obesity and labour market outcomes for women is spurious.

• trends in mental health – Professor Matthew Hotopf (King's College London – Psychological Medicine). June 2011

  The HSE data allows trends in mental health and wellbeing to be examined from 1991-2009. There is a good deal of speculation that prevalence of mental disorders has increased during this time. I aim to explore prevalence estimates over that period. I also aim to use the HSE to provide comparisons for data on military health which we have collected in the King's Centre for Military Health Research; where we have used identical measures (GHQ-12).

• Child and adult weight status – Ms Caroline Ridler. May 2011

  Research and data analysis of the trends in healthy weight, underweight, overweight and obesity in the child and adult population and research into the health and lifestyle determinants of weight status.
  Other surveys used: NATIONAL CHILD MEASUREMENT PROGRAMME; 2008-2009 NATIONAL SURVEY OF SEXUAL ATTITUDES AND LIFESTYLES II; 2000-2001 NATIONAL SURVEY OF SEXUAL ATTITUDES AND LIFESTYLES; 1990 NATIONAL DIET AND NUTRITION SURVEY; 2008-2009.

• Lifestyle risks factors – Dr Francesca Frosini. May 2011

  The data will be used to analyse clustering of lifestyle risk factors (i.e. smoking, heavy drinking, fruit and vegetable consumption and physical acticity) within individuals and socio economic determinants of clustering. The outputs of this project are aimed at supporting the effective development of public health strategies.

• Analysis of overweight and obesity in children and adults – Mrs Rachel Jackson Leach. May 2011

  We would like to analyse the overweight and obesity in children in England using the IOTF cut off points. We would also like to study overweight, obesity and morbid obesity in adults to a greater extent than generally published. The data will be presented on our website and perhaps in the future if appropriate in academic peer reviewed papers.
  Other surveys used: SHES.

• The Care Life Cycle: Responding to the Health and Social Care Needs of an Ageing Society – Dr Richard Shaw (University of Southampton – School of Social Sciences). April 2011

  The UK's population is ageing and, given that older people are the major users of health and social care services, this presents a major challenge for policymakers. As well as increasing the demand for care, population ageing is affecting the supply of care professionals, as the health workforce itself ages. Datasets will be used to inform models predicting the demand for Health and social care and the workforce available to meet that demand.
  Other surveys used: ELSA SURVEY OF SELF-FUNDED ADMISSIONS TO CARE HOMES; 1999-2000 GHS ADULT PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY SURVEY; 2007 UKHLS LFS.

• Prescription Drug Patterns – Ethan Lieber. April 2011

  The point is to look at prescription drug usage and how the NICE recommendations affected the use of statins. Also, to see how over the counter use of statins was affected and if statin usage is associated with other healthy/unhealthy habits.

• Disease Prevalence and Resource Allocation – Dr Alex Gibson (University of Plymouth – Applied Psychosocial Studies). March 2011

  To use Small Area Estimation (SAE) methods to estimate the prevalence of cardiac and mental health disorders in MSOA and GP populations. To contrast these local estimates of disease prevalence against health service utilisation data to test the extent to which health needs are being met by the NHS in different areas and with respect to different population cohorts (e.g. by age and/or ethnicity). To explore the causes of inequalities in health and health service utilisation. The project's overall objective is to identify and explain local variations in the uptake of cardiac and mental health services relative to the underlying need for such services. Data on the use of health services are now widely available but evidence on the health needs of local populations is more problematic and studies of health care equity have been beset by methodological difficulties associated with establishing expected levels of health service need. Our approach is to use data drawn from a range of cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys to construct a series of mixed-effects models to describe the risk that different types of person living in different areas will experience particular cardiac or mental health conditions. Applying model parameters to local population co-variates allow us to generate robust estimates of the health needs of those populations and these are then compared with the subsequent utilisation of appropriate health services.
  Other surveys used: LFS.

• Labour market discrimination research – Mr Muhammad Anees. March 2011

  The data will be utilized in the detailed discussion of labour market discrimination in the UK and cross sectional estimation techniques would be implemented following standard oaxaca-blinder techniques for differential analysis along with the recently developed counterfactual distribution techniques developed by Machad0-Mata (2005).
  Other surveys used: LFS EFS GHS BSA ELSA IHS UKHLS.

• Establishing a baseline for monitoring Big Society – Dr Elizabeth Richardson (University of Edinburgh – School of Geosciences). March 2011

  This is a project funded under the AHRC's Connected Communities theme. The objective is to evaluate datasets that could be used to monitor progress towards 'Big Society' at the community level. Datasets of interest include those that deal with volunteering; involvement in local issues and community cohesion and empowerment.
  Other surveys used: NATIONAL SURVEY OF THIRD SECTOR ORGANISATIONS; 2008 CITIZENSHIP SURVEY; 2007-2008.

• The causal relationship between education; health and health related behaviour: Evidence from a natural experiment in England – Dr Nils Braakmann (Newcastle University – Business School - Economics). February 2011

  Exploitation of a natural experiment in England that creates discontinuities in educational attainment between January and February born individuals. Use that to shed light on causal relationship between education and health.
  Other surveys used: LFS.

• Assimilation and Selection in Irish Migrant Health – Dr Liam Delaney. February 2011

  Research examining the effects of selection and assimilation on the health of Irish migrants in the UK; utilising the 1999 and 2004 samples; with the 2000 sample used as a control.

• Health impact modelling physical activity – Dr James Woodcock (UCL – Epidemiology and Population Health). February 2011

  Health impact modelling of changes of alternative transport scenarios. The models will focus on changes to total physical activity through changes to walking and cycling. The study is part of the Visions 2030 Walking and Cycling project; funded by the ESPRC.

• Public health observatory – Dr Julian Flowers. December 2010

  Public health and healthcare quality surveillance to inform health and healthcare policy making. Population health research. Disease modelling. Analysis of patient experience datasets. Estimating health behaviours and health risks such as healthy diet; physical activity and alcohol consumption.
  Other surveys used: SMOKING, DRINKING AND DRUG USE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, 2008 SMOKING; DRINKING AND DRUG USE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE; 2008 NORTHERN IRELAND ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISION DATA; 2007 ROAD ACCIDENT DATA; 2006 ROAD ACCIDENT DATA; 2009 MENTAL HEALTH TRUSTS: COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE USER SURVEY; 2010 NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE NATIONAL STAFF SURVEY; 2009 MENTAL HEALTH ACUTE INPATIENT SERVICE USERS SURVEY; 2009 NATIONAL CANCER PATIENT EXPERIENCE SURVEY; 2010 MATERNITY SERVICES SURVEY; 2010 ACUTE TRUSTS: ADULT INPATIENTS SURVEY; 2010.

• Modelling wealth taxes – Ms Kayte Lawton. December 2010

  This project is looking at the feasibility of constructing a model of wealth in the UK among different family types using existing data sources. If we find that there is sufficient data on wealth ownership and transfers in the WAS and/or other household surveys, the next stage of the project will involve constructing the model. In order to do this; we need to draw on existing datasets containing information about wealth ownership and transfers within different households.
  Other surveys used: FRS ELSA GHS HBAI EFS LFS.

• Multidimensional Poverty Across Europe – Professor Isabella Procidano. December 2010

  Income poverty is commonly encountered in developing and developed countries alike; but in the latter case the incidence rate is lower. However, beyond income, the health dimension is recalling the attention of a wide number of studies. A disjoint analysis of the two components could potentially lead to misleading results; especially in developed countries (Madden; 2008). In this framework Senas Capability Approach emerged as the leading alternative to standard economic analysis of poverty and human development generally; arguing that poverty is not just low level of consumption or income; but it is a broader concept related to the inability of reaching an acceptable standard in several dimensions; e.g. health. This paper presents poverty according to the multidimensional approach. We are interested in comparing the dynamic of multidimensional poverty across European countries for elderly people; therefore we use data from the HSE.

• Regional variations in geography of height – Dr Helena Tunstall (University of York – Health Sciences). November 2010

  The analysis will compare heights of populations; by age groups; between regions. The intention of the analysis is to assess whether temporal and spatial variations in height can help understand unexplainined variaions in health outcomes between areas.
  Other surveys used: NATIONAL HEIGHTS AND WEIGHTS SURVEY; 1980 SCOTTISH HOUSEHOLD SURVEY; 2007-2008.

• Scalability and validity of the Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) – Dr Matthew Hankins (University of Sussex – Division of Primary Care & Public Health). October 2010

  Assessment of the scaling properties of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); in particular whether the structure varies across populations; using non-parametric item response models.

• Biometry and human attractiveness – Dr Piers Cornelissen (University of York – Psychology). October 2010

  We are studying the biometric determinants of human decisions about visual attributes such as physical attractiveness; health and fertility.

• Health inequalities and area-based initiatives – Dr Mai Stafford (UCL – Epidemiology and Public Health). September 2010

  To investigate the impact of area-based initiatives (specifically; the New Deal for Communities) on socioeconomic inequalities in health. To test the hypothesis that selective uptake is widening inequalities within intervention areas.

• An estimation of the proportion of children living with substance misusing parents – Dr Victoria Manning (King's College London – psychological medicine). September 2010

  In 2007/8 we undertook secondary analysis on several datasets in order to generate estimates of the number of children living with substance misusing parents in the UK. We would like to update these figures using the more recent datasets that are now available paying particular attention to infants this time.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Health needs assesement – Dr Gabriel Agboado. September 2010

  To astimate a reference SF36 score profile the health survey popualtion to compare with the profile to be obtain for Blackpool residents. This will form the basis for identifying the health needs of the population.
  Other surveys used: FRS.

• Stroke Epidemiology – Dr alex dregan (King's College London – Primary Care and Public Health Sciences). August 2010

  To validate the prevalence of stroke in the general population; comparing GPRD and large survey data with respect to stroke treatment and secondary care. To explore trends in stroke incidence and prevalence among older people.
  Other surveys used: NCDS BCS70 ELSA.

• Health and wellbeing – Dr Bernard Van den Berg (University of York – Centre for Health Economics). August 2010

  Measuring health and wellbeing of UK population. This also includes interdependent utility functions. Moreover; we will explore valuation of health related behaviour of individuals and households. Also use of health services and health and wellbeing will be measured and valued.
  Other surveys used: ELSA.

• Happiness; health and unemployment – Professor David Blanchflower (University of Stirling – Economics). August 2010

  examine how the welfare of the UK population is dealing with the onset of the great recession. This is a broad based project involving looking at depression, happiness as well as underemployment with emphasis on the young.
  Other surveys used: LFS BSA SHES FRS NCDS WHS LOS Omnibus.

• Developing and evaluating policies to reduce tobacco use and harm in the UK – Dr Behrooz Tavakoly (University of Bath – School for Health). July 2010

  We play a major role in the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies (UKCTCS) - one of five UK Public Health Centres established in 2008. UKCTCS is a strategic partnership of seven UK universities in England and Scotland (Nottingham; Bath; Birmingham; Edinburgh; Stirling; Queen Mary; UCL) involving leading tobacco control researchers from a range of disciplines. We plan to assess whether the tobacco advertising ban (the 2002 Tobacco Advertising and Promotion Act) has changed cigarette brand preference amongst smokers. The hypothesis to be tested is that; as advertising is curtailed; smokers will increasingly turn to cheaper alternatives as the brand value of expensive brands declines. We plan to explore differences in existing and new smokers and to examine impacts by gender; age and social class.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Using HSE Data for Weight Management Services across Cheshire & Merseyside – Mr Paul Langton. July 2010

  To use data as a baseline for work looking at weight management services within the NHS across Cheshire & Merseyside. There is not a reliable source of information pertaining to obesity at a sub-regional level; thus a regional or national proxy is required.

• Association between moderate-vigourous physical activity and risk factors for cardiovascular disease – Dr James White (Cardiff University – Primary Care and Public Health). June 2010

  To examine the association between levels of moderate-vigourous physical activity; total activity and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. To examine whether these relationships vary according to levels of indivdiual derpivation; sedentary behaviours and obesity.

• Mental Health Profile for Greater Glasgow and Clyde – Dr Deborah Shipton. June 2010

  These data will contribute to a project which aims to gather information on mental health and its determinants; including crime; from a broad range of current sources to provide a comprehensive up-to-date understanding of adult mental health issues in the region. This will involve describing non-violent neighbourhood crime; perceptions of local crime; racial discrimination; partner abuse and neighbourhood violent crime in Glasgow and relevant administrative geographies. The project is supported by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health.
  Other surveys used: APS SHES GHS LFS SCS.

• Avoidable Deaths Study – Mr Giulio Flore. June 2010

  The study aims to model CVD/CHD related deaths over the 2010-2020 period and their reduction through standard therapies. The study support the execution of national targets for the reduction of CVD/CHD mortality in the PCTs operating in Birmingham LA.

• Children and young people's subjective well-being – Dr Antonia Keung (University of York – Department of Social Policy & Social Work). May 2010

  Study subjective well-being of those 11-15 year-olds and to monitor if there is any changes over time. The analysis attempts to explore the factors associated with the changes in young people's subjective well-being.
  Other surveys used: BHPS TimeUse FRS.

• Service use amongst those for whom English is not their first language – Mr Martin Hyde (Sheffield Hallam University – Psychology; sociology and politics). May 2010

  The data will be used to do some preliminary analyses on the number of potential service users have difficulty speaking English.
  Other surveys used: LIW SHES WHS ELSA.

• CLAHRC: maternal and child health – Ms Stephanie Prady (University of York – Health Sciences). May 2010

  To investigate maternal and child health and wellbeing in ethnic minorities with special reference to social and spatial demography. The aim of this CLAHRC is to address inequalities in child health and well-being with a specific focus on four areas; (1) Antenatal health exposures to risk factors in utero; (2) Infant and child feeding and obesity; (3) Maternal mental health and (4) Access to health and social care services. The objective of the academic team of this CLAHRC is to provide empirical evidence that is meaningful and specific to Bradford's population. To provide evidence about Bradfords population we wish to describe and explore the features and outcomes of families living in deprived and ethnic wards using data from the MCS. Most of these analyses can be conducted at the study- and county-level; however we anticipate that some factors may be unique to the Bradford community and these will need to be explored at the local authority level. Statistics based on these analyses will be used to guide the direction of data collection by Bradfords clincians. Bradford has been identified as having the highest burden of infant mortality in the UK; and has excessive child morbidity. Overall the city is in the 5th most deprived quintile on the 2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation. The most deprived and ethnically dense wards have the largest burden of infant mortality. Bradford is a multi-ethnic community; with several wards having >50% density of Pakistani-origin familes. The Pakistani community of Bradford is largely comprised of families who originate from one area of Pakistan; and most migrants from this area of Pakistan settle in Bradford and surrounding areas. Causes of high mortality and morbidity are likely to be a complex interaction of environmental; genetic and epigenetic factors; effects which may be unique to Bradford.
  Other surveys used: MCS FRS NCDS.

• Scalability of self-report measures – Dr Matthew Hankins (University of Sussex – Division of Primary Care & Public Health). April 2010

  This project will assess the scalability of self-report measures (i.e. questionnaire measures) used in the survey. Methods used will attempt to model scalability and reliability of measures under more realistic assumptions than are usually applied.
  Other surveys used: Omnibus ELSA.

• Trends in the geographies of cardiovascular risk factors – Dr Nicola Shelton (UCL – Department of Epidemiology and Public Health). March 2010

  Multilevel modelling of trends in the geographies of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular disease risk factors using Health Survey for England data taking into account national and regional and national economic factors.

• Research on nutrition policy evaluation – Dr Mario Mazzocchi (University of Reading – m.mazzocchi@rdg.ac.uk). March 2010

  The data are used for a EU research project on the evaluation of nutrition policies (EATWELL). The aim of the project is to provide data-based evidence on the effectiveness of alternative policy actions to tackle obesity.
  Other surveys used: Omnibus EFS NATIONAL DIET AND NUTRITION SURVEY : ADULTS AGED 19 TO 64 YEARS; 2000-2001 NATIONAL DIET AND NUTRITION SURVEY; 2008-2009 NFS FES NATIONAL FOOD SURVEY; 1976.

• Monitoring poverty and social exclusion – Mr Guy Palmer. March 2010

  Maintenance of 100 key indicators of poverty and social exclusion both for the UK as a whole and for regions within it. Subjects covered include income, work, education, health, housing, crime and neighbourhoods. See www.poverty.org.uk
  Other surveys used: LFS NICHS EFS FRS APS LIW BCS SCS WHS Omnibus HBAI FES EHS NSW.

• Exploring walking and cycling behaviour in Scotland – Dr Yusak Susilo (University of the West of England – Architecture and Planning). March 2010

  Has been commisioned by NHS Scotland to map datasets that related with walking and cycling behaviour in Scotland overtime. I am planning to use some multivariate stastistical analysis to explore the relationships between individual socio-demographic; built environment factor and cycling and walking behaviour in Scotland.
  Other surveys used: LFS SHES BSA APS SSA SEH NTS Omnibus.

• research on teenagers' body modifications – Dr rossella ghigi (Goldsmiths; University of London – Sociology). February 2010

  I'm collecting data on teens' body modifications and body images in Uk in order to compare them with data about Italian teenagers. This will be part of a more general research project on the increasing number of cosmetic surgery procedures among young people in European countries.
  Other surveys used: SHES NICHS APS BSA EFS Omnibus FRS LSYPE.

• Epidemiology of Multi-morbidity – Dr Mark Hann (University of Manchester – National Primary Care Research & Development Centre). February 2010

  This study will address questions around multi-morbidity through secondary analysis of existing cross-sectional and longitudinal datasets. Cross-sectionally we will look at the impact of co-morbidity on health status and health service use controlling for demographics: longitudinally we will attempt to determine how co-morbid chronic conditions ‘develop’ over time.
  Other surveys used: WHS.

• occupational uncertainty and mental health of youth population – Dr francesca fiori. February 2010

  We intend to explore the existence of a significant relationship between occupational conditions and situations of psychological discomfort; comparing British and Italian population aged from 18 to 40 without any disability or chronic diseases. The underlying assumption is that unsettled and unsatisfactory occupational conditions may negatively affect youth psychological health resulting in anxiety; depression or general psychological malaise.

• Health; Economic Conditions and Locality – Ms Sue Easton (University of Durham – Geography). January 2010

  The data will be explored for possible use in a comparative study between England and Sweden on health and economic conditions between 1990 and 2005. In the first instance the possibility of assigning anonymous codes at local authority level will be explored with ONS. The research involves constructing a time-series using different cross-sectional surveys.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Evaluation of Hearty Lives programme – Mr Richard Sutcliffe. December 2009

  The programme aims to reduce the incidence and raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in deprived areas of the UK. We would use Health Survey for England data; between 1994 and 2007; to assess the underlying national trends in some of the factors that our research has indicated as risk factors (i.e. smoking; consumption of fruit and vegetables; blood pressure etc.)

• Height and weight percentiles for children – Professor Gillian Raab (University of St Andrews – Geography). December 2009

  I am analyzing data from the UK CF register and I want to obtain information on how heights weights and FEV1 of all children vary with age and deprivation to compare with the CF data.

• Child Blood Pressure and Obesity – Miss Helen Peters (University College London – Institute of Child Health). December 2009

  We intend to examine how increases in obesity prevalence impact cardiovascular diesase risk factors in children. Specifically, we will examine how the associations between body sizes and blood pressure in children have changed over time.
  Other surveys used: BCS70 MCS NATIONAL CHILD MEASUREMENT PROGRAMME; 2007-2008 NATIONAL CHILD MEASUREMENT PROGRAMME; 2009-2010 NATIONAL CHILD MEASUREMENT PROGRAMME; 2006-2007 NATIONAL CHILD MEASUREMENT PROGRAMME; 2008-2009.

• Avoidable Mortality – Dr Daniel Weisz. November 2009

  Updating of paper published in Eur. J. of Public Health in 2007 - "Population health and the health system: a comparative analysis of avoidable mortality in three nations and their world cities"
  Other surveys used: Vital Statistics.

• Secular Trends in UK Children's Waist Circumference – Dr Gavin Sandercock (University of Essex – Biological Sciences). October 2009

  We wish to compare these data collected in 1997 with new values for waist circumference collected as part of a recent (2007) survey; the East of England Healthy Hearts Study.

• Change in weight and caloric density of food consumed – Dr Sriniranjan Shekar (University of London School of Economics – LSE Health, Department of Social Policy). October 2009

  Investigating the increase of obesity around the world in recent years. This investigation seeks to determine whether there has been an increase in the weight of food consumed in recent years, or whether there has been a change in consumption to food of greater caloric density.
  Other surveys used: NFS EFS.

• A new approach to measuring income-related inequalities in health – Dr Casey Quinn (University of Nottingham – Primary Care). October 2009

  I intend to us the BHPS data to look at Health and Income longitudinally, to compare different measures of income-related inequalities in health. It will be primarily a methodological paper that also seeks to contribute to the health-inequality literature in the UK and internationally.
  Other surveys used: ELSA BHPS Omnibus.

• global burden of respiratory disease – Ms Ramyani Gupta (Imperial College London – Population Genetics and Gene Therapy). October 2009

  Assess burden of chronic lower respiratory disease in the UK and globally by extracting estimates of the prevalence of COPD and asthma. Part of WHO Global Burden of Disease 2005 project.
  Other surveys used: SHES.

• Variation in medicines use in England – Professor Rachel Elliott (University of Nottingham – Pharmacy). October 2009

  This study examines the varition in the use of prescription and non-prescription medicines in the English population, and links this to socioeconomic status, age, number of people in the household, geographic area and other relevant demographic factors

• Adulthood television viewing and the development of metabolic, inflammatory and blood lipid risk factors in early middle age: is the relationship independent of the physical activity trajectory? – Dr Emmanuel Stamatakis (University College London – e.stamatakis@ucl.ac.uk). October 2009

  Sedentary behaviour and its key component television viewing have been found to correlate to risk for cardio-metabolic conditions and CVD risk factors. However, the majority of evidence in this area is cross-sectional, cross-sectional evidence is subject to reverse causation interpretations. The aim of the proposed study will be to examine longitudinally the independent relationship between television viewing and risk for development of cardio-metabolic risk factors. Proposed cardio-metabolic risk factors will be systolic and diastolic blood pressure, Insulin Growth Factor 1, Glycated Haemoglobin, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, all measured at approximately age 42.
  Other surveys used: NCDS.

• Health and population analyses – Dr Paul Norman (University of Leeds – School of Geography). September 2009

  This work investigates socio-demographic and area type variations in health outcomes, both self reported and diagnosed. A variety of datasets are being used here, from survey resources like the HSE, GHS and LFS and population resources like the Vital Statistics.
  Other surveys used: GHS LFS.

• Height in relation to maternal ethnicity – Professor David Leon (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine – EPH). September 2009

  These data will be used to examine whether there are systematic differences in height between mothers who are 1st compared to 2nd generation migrants to the UK.
  Other surveys used: MCS.

• Estimating number of deaf/blind people in the UK – Dr Janet Robertson (Lancaster University – Division of Health Research). September 2009

  Using national datasources to estimate the prevalence of co-occurring vision and hearing impairments among children and adults in the UK. These datasources will include major national surveys and administrative data sets.
  Other surveys used: FRS GHS NTS SHES ELSA BHPS APS HBAI WHS LFS NICHS LIW MCS.

• Food practices and employed families with younger children – Mr Charlie Owen (University of Institute of Education – Thomas Coram Research Unit). September 2009

  This mixed methods study aims to map and understand the effects of a major social change that research indicates affects the quality of children's diets, namely the rise of maternal/dual parental employment in the UK.

• Evaluation of IHS Data – Mr chris white. September 2009

  To evaluate the smoking prevalence data collected on the Integrated Household Survey core module 2008 to assess fitness for publication. This data source requires an appraisal of smoking prevalence against other estabished sources to support National Statistics accreditation.

• Health Needs and Resource Allocation – Dr Alexander Gibson (University of Plymouth – School of Applied Pyschosocial Studies; Faculty of Health). September 2009

  To use the HSE to investigate socio-economic and regional variations of morbidity with a view to evaluating equity of resource allocation methodologies and to develop 'bottom-up' resource allocation methodologies (particularly with respect to meeting mental health needs).
  Other surveys used: LFS.

• Monitoring poverty and social exclusion – Miss Anushree PAREKH. September 2009

  Analysis of trends in low income by various characteristics like family type, age, gender, ethnicity, work status etc. to form an annual report that is released in the public domain.
  Other surveys used: LFS FRS HBAI BHPS NTS EFS SEH APS Omnibus GHS BCS.

• Analysis of Injuries due to Road Traffic Accidents – Dr Luke Hounsome. August 2009

  The SWPHO has lead responsibility for analysing the effect of injuries on public health. Road traffic accidents are a major contributor to injuries and so data is analysed for trends by geography, age etc. This data will be an update for already existing stats19 data.

• Prevalence of long-term conditions in England – Dr Charles Beck. August 2009

  To analyse the HSE 2007 to determine the prevalence of long-term conditions (by ICD-10 chapter) in England. This data will be used in a health needs assessment currently being written by myself to compare these data with the target population to determine if there is a similar, greater or lesser extent of such conditions.

• Passive Smoking Exposure Over Time – Dr Jennifer Mindell (University College London – Epidemiology & public health). August 2009

  We are examining changes over time in adult non-smokers' exposure to passive smoking, as determined in successive HSEs, using both subjective and objective data where these exist.

• Obesogenic Environments – Dr Seraphim Alvanides (Newcastle University – Geography, Politics & Sociology). August 2009

  Assessing and measuring the obesogenic environment and how it may be affecting obesity levels in North East England. Keywords: obesity; obesogenic environment; walkability; connectivity; land use; green spaces; foodscapes; physical activity; socio-economic determinants.

• Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion – Tom MacInnes. August 2009

  Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion is an annual report New Policy Institute carries out for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It containss analysis of statistics relating to low income; unemployment; homelessness and education; among other issues. As well as presenting the data in a clear; understandable form; it also carries some commentary on the policy implications of the findings.
  Other surveys used: BCS FRS HBAI BSA LFS NTS SEH.

• Review of child obesity trends – Dr Tim Lobstein (University of Sussex – Science policy). August 2009

  We need to consider the recent changes in the prevalence of child obesity, using internationally standardised criteria (not UK government criteria). This data is for comparison with other countries and trends over time.

• Older people and long term conditions – Dr Yang Tian (Eastern Birmingham Primary Care Trust – Health and Wellbeing Parternship). July 2009

  I will use the data for the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Birmingham supporting the city councils and the primary care trust for future planning. This will help in tackling inequalities in health and wellbeing in the population of Birmingham.
  Other surveys used: GHS BSA.

• Population Estimates – Mr Jeffrey Rohay. July 2009

  We will be producing distribution estimates of several demographic characteristics among the population of adult smokers with the purpose of weighting data from a marketing survey we are analyzing. Our goal is to make the distribution of the demographic variables from our survey comparable to those seen among the entire population of smokers.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Health status transitions of older people – Professor Michael Murphy (University of London School of Economics – Social Policy). July 2009

  To combine morbidity information with other socio-demographic covariates to produce transition rates in order to build a multi-state model for older people in Britain to assess future health status under alternative assumptions.
  Other surveys used: ELSA.

• Ethnic health differentials – Professor Michael Murphy (University of London School of Economics – Social Policy). July 2009

  To investigate the relative importance of country of birth and ethnicity on a range of health indicators in Britain specifically to look at the role of Body Mass Index and biomarkers.

• DAMES project research investigations – Dr Paul Lambert (University of Stirling – Applied Social Science). July 2009

  DAMES (Data Management through e-Social Science, www.dames.org.uk) is a project concerned with handling and manipulating social science data, such as variable operationalisations. The project includes numerous evaluations of data manipulation issues for secondary social surveys.
  Other surveys used: LFS GHS BHPS.

• The Benefit of Cataract Surgery – Dr M Weale (National Institute of Economic and Social Research – NIESR). July 2009

  The data are required for a study to explore the pattern of cataract surgery by age and sex of patient. The aim is to produce an output index for cataract surgery which takes account of any treatment of intramarginal patients.
  Other surveys used: ELSA.

• Injury Prevention – Dr Paul Hewson (University of Plymouth – School of Mathematics and Statistics). July 2009

  The responses in relation to injury will be examined in a multilevel model to disaggregate personal, family composition and area characteristics that may be associated with higher injury risk. Models will be fitted using Bayesian methods.

• Smoking and Voting – Dr Nattavudh Powdthavee (University of York – Economics & Related Studies). July 2009

  To investigate whether the smoking ban affects an individual's propensity to vote for leftwing parties. The hypothesis is that there could be a reverse causality that runs from smoking to people's voting preference.
  Other surveys used: BHPS.

• Analysis of vertical equity in the delivery of health care in England – Miss Laura Vallejo-Torres (University College London – Epidemiology and Public Health). June 2009

  To look at the vertical equity in the delivery of health care in England. I aim to study to what extent individuals in different levels of need receive appropriately different treatment.

• Example of propensity score adjustment – Professor Martin Gulliford (King's College London – PHS). June 2009

  This analysis is to provide an example of propensity score adjustment in observational data for a proposed publication in a statistical paper. Subject to suitability the example will include self-reported diabetes in relation to BMI and SES.

• Adult Heights – Dr Richard Palmer-Jones (University of East Anglia – School of Development Studies). June 2009

  I am trying to analyse changes in heights of adults by cohort in developing countries using heights of Western populations as standards. It turns out that heights of western populations have been increasing including recent cohorts, so modeling is required to estimate "ultimate" heights.
  Other surveys used: NCDS BCS70 MCS.

• Active travel and public health geographies – Dr Benedict Wheeler (University of Bristol – Social Medicine). May 2009

  Proposed fellowship researching environmental and social influences on active travel and consequent impacts on public health and sustainability.
  Other surveys used: NTS.

• Secondary analysis of datasets which contain questions on sleep – Mr Robert Meadows (University of Surrey – Sociology). May 2009

  We are exploring the epidemiology of sleep and attitudes/perceptions towards sleep. This involves (in part) exploring secondary sources which contain question on sleep.
  Other surveys used: NICHS.

• Ongoing research into the demographic; socio-demographic and personal correlates of tobacco smoking – Professor Martin Jarvis (UCL – epidemiology & public health). May 2009

  The GHS is the principal source of data on tobacco smoking behaviour for Great Britain. I have accessed and analysed the GHS data for all years since 1973 in order to study numerous aspects of smoking and its determinants. Interests include (1) calculation of smoking cessation rates in ever smokers (quit ratios) adjusted for pipe and cigar smoking in order to examine gender differences in smoking cessation; (2) study of cigarette smoking and cessation in relation to a variety of indicators of socio-economic status; (3) Use of cigarette brand choice as reported in the GHS to generate market share estimates and contribute to sales-weighted cigarette yields that are independent of tobacco industry sources; (4) comparison of smoking prevalence estimates from the GHS with those derived from the ONS Omnibus survey. I wish to continue these lines of research by accessing the 2007 and future data. HSE and ONS Omnibus surveys give complementary smoking data; but the GHS is the source of official GB prevalence data. I wish to add to existing time-series data that I have extracted from previous GHS data sets. The analyses I need to conduct cannot be done without access to the detailed data. Publication of research papers in peer-reviewed academic journals
  Other surveys used: Omnibus GHS IHS SHES ELSA.

• Gender geographiies of alcohol consumption in contemporary England – Dr Nicola Shelton (UCL – Department of Epidemiology and Public Health). April 2009

  Gender geographies of alcohol consumption in contemporary England. Socio-geographical analysis of the extent of alcohol consumption in England by region; gender; age group; number of units of alcohol and drink type.
  Other surveys used: GHS NICHS.

• Epidemiology-Health Survey of England – Ms Elizabeth Hayes. April 2009

  The purpose of purchasing the Health Survey of England data will be used in identifying and estimating the population of the citizens of the United Kingdom with specific health conditions and diseases. I work on the epidemiology team at Decision Resources, Inc., a private research company. The epidemiology team at Decision Resources is looking to purchase the data from the Health Survey of England for the purpose of analyzing the data to estimate incidence and prevalence rates of diseases in a number of therapeutic areas for a variety of indications. For example, we would like to estimate the number of people in the UK with asthma and would like to use a large, population-based survey to do so.

• Estimate hypertension prevalence – Mrs Kuiama Thompson (Salford PCT – Public Health). April 2009

  The data will be used to estimate hypertension prevalence for practice populations in Salford. Using 160/100 as the BP cut off for defining hypertension the data will be stratified by gender, age and deprivation and used to estimate actual hypertension prevalence in practices. This will then be compared to reported prevalence in QOF in order to identify any missing populations.

• Inequalities in diabetes – Ms Naomi Holman (University of York – Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory). April 2009

  Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Observatory has a national lead area on diabetes. As part of this strategic programme it is producing a report summarising the current data on inequalities in diabetes prevalence and diabetes care. The data will be used in a report to illustrate the inequalities in the prevalence of diabetes and obesity.

• Health income and work – Professor jonathan wadsworth (London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE); University of London – Centre for Economic Performance). April 2009

  the idea is to use a variety of comparable cross country data sources to examine covariates of health and work The first project will look at the variation in the take up of the MMR vaccine was associated with income and education
  Other surveys used: BHPS EFS FRS.

• Obesity prevalence in England in 2007 – Dr Dexter Canoy (University of Manchester – School of Community-based Medicine). April 2009

  As part of the Obesity e-Lab project, one of the nodes of the National e-Social Science Centre, we aim to describe the obesity prevalence, its determinants and risks, over time.

• Investigation of cardiovascular risk factors – Mr Daniel Ryan. April 2009

  We would like to investigate both trends in individual risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease during the investigation period of the Health Surveys for England and also the correlation of risk factors in the population.

• Research – Mr Kenneth Howse (University of Oxford – Oxford Institute of Aging). March 2009

  To analyse UK data on health of older population comparable to a dataset on elderly Spanish population to look at cognitve impairment and its correlates.
  Other surveys used: ELSA.

• Happiness and health – Professor David Blanchflower (University of Stirling – Economics). March 2009

  This continues work I have been doing across countries on health and wellbeing, including work on happiness, obesity and depression.
  Other surveys used: LFS WHS FRS.

• Foresight Obesity modelling for HWHL – Mr Tim Marsh. February 2009

  To update the microsimulation program orginally produced for the Foresight Obesity model. To include 2007 data so an update can be published in a forthcoming Department of Health publication.

• Framework for optimising clinical information system – Mr Aloysius Edoh jnr (University of East London – CITE). February 2009

  To investigate and create an optimisation framework that uses a Combinatorial Multiple Attribute (CMA) concept for clinical data re-representation and expresses it in a mathematical formalism. An algorithm will be designed using utility function and Raman transformation table [17] then applies LP techniques to determine the optimal amount of clinical data required for disease analysis and management. This framework will reduce the information overload; communication and space complexities encountered in CIS and improve performances. It can also be used as epidemiological tool to determine the percentage risk of a patient been hypertensive and used for primary health care management.

• Depression and Long-Term Incapacity – Matt Sutton (University of Manchester – Health Methodology Research Group). February 2009

  Longitudinal analysis of mental health status (as measured by the General Health Questionnaire 12-item) and employment status (especially inability to work due to long-term ill-health), to complement analysis of routine data on incapacity benefit claimants, anti-depressant prescribing and interviews with General Practitioners.
  Other surveys used: BHPS APS.

• Variations in data by timing – Dr Jennifer Mindell (University College London – Epidemiology & public health). February 2009

  We aim to investigate variations in the socio-demographic profiles by when the interview and nurse visit occurred, and how this impacts on self-reported health, physical measurements, and biological analytes. No funding

• EQ5D population norms – Professor Alastair Gray (University of Oxford – Public Health). February 2009

  I want up to date population mean scores by age and sex for the EQ 5D, to compare with other data from clinical trials. I'm currently using 1996 data from HSE and want to update.

• To examine factors related to alcohol use – Dr Joe West (University of Nottingham – Division of Epidemiology and Public Health). February 2009

  To examine factors related to alcohol use such as age, sex, number of children, occupation and how alcohol use varies among these groups. I will also use these data to show students I am teaching about the health survey for england.
  Other surveys used: EFS NCDS.

• Understanding London's labour market and population – Ms Lorna Spence (Greater London Authority – Data Management and Analysis Group). February 2009

  This is an ongoing project in the areas of demographic, labour market and social exclusion analysis. Data are regularly required to inform the development, implementation and monitoring of numerous GLA strategies. The key areas this project covers includes: - London's demography - The level and nature of labour market participation in London - Profiling groups most at risk of income poverty - Profiling groups at risk of labour market exclusion - Examining factors associated with exclusion - Equalities and the labour market - Immigration and the labour market - Demographic and labour market trends The team also has a monitoring remit across key strategy areas, including: social inclusion (e.g. child poverty), planning, sustainability, health, economic development, equalities, refugee integration and housing.
  Other surveys used: LFS FRS APS EFS BCS GHS HBAI.

• Depression Prevention – Dr Joerg Huber (Roehampton University – School of Human & Life Science). January 2009

  I am interested in the development of depression prevention programmes for individuals with chronic disorders. To this effect I am particularly interested in the Health Survey England data with its General Health Questionnaire GHQ datasets plus the Geriatric Depression Scale (see HSE 2005).

• NHF tobacco modelling – Mr Tim Marsh. January 2009

  The National Heart Forum is to construct a computer model of the likely health outcomes for the UK population over the next 20 years from the consumption of tobacco. This model will make use of many years of HSE data.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Allometry – Professor Wolney Conde. January 2009

  We are studying nutritional assessment. The focus of our current study is allometry (specifically the height-weight relation adjustment) for children and teenagers. We will search for differences in these relations between ethnicities and countries.
  Other surveys used: SHES.

• Social Distribution of Lifestyle Risk Factors among Pregnant Women in the Health Survey for England: 2001-2006. – Mrs Andrew McCulloch (University of Hull – Faculty of Health and Social Care). January 2009

  In this project we use pooled data from the Health survey of England for the years 2001 - 2006 to examine the social distribution of lifestyle risk factors for adverse birth outcomes among women who are currently pregnant. Over this period there has been an increased recognition that during pregnancy changes in lifestyle behaviours such as alcohol consumption and smoking may improve birth outcomes with consequences for later health. The responsibility for changing behaviour has however been placed largely on the individual with less emphasis on how lifestyle behaviour is influenced by the wider social environment. The importance of the wider context and barriers that may make individual behaviour difficult to change has been illustrated by the persistence of class inequalities in smoking behaviour among women.
  Other surveys used: GHS NFS EFS LFS.

• Obesity e-Lab use-cases – Mr Ian Dunlop (University of Manchester – Engineering). January 2009

  Providing access to statistics to epidemiologists through a web application as part of the Obesity e-Lab project. Users will be able to view and combine datasets and share their findings with other users.

• Lipid profiling of Bradford Population – Dr Christopher Gibbons (Bradford City PCT – Public Health). December 2008

  A health economic analysis of statin prescribing for CVD primary and secondary prevention guidelines, and to estimate the impact in terms of reduced CVD events and effects on population cholesterol levels. We require data on lipid levels in order to create a lipid profile for Bradford.

• Relationship of BMI to waist and hip size – Dr William Lassek. December 2008

  Investigate relationships between height, weight, BMI, and waist and hip circumferences by age and sex and compare with comparable data from the US National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) to see how the US population compares with the UK taking account of different methods of measuring waist circumference.

• Comparison with cancer survivors – Dr Daniel Stark (University of Leeds – Section of Oncology and Clinical Research). December 2008

  We have collected and analysed a GHQ-12 dataset from young adult cancer survivors from our work in the hospitals in Leeds. We wish to compare it to this survey, ideally selecting subjects from the Yorkshire region.
  Other surveys used: BHPS.

• Childhood obesity trends – Dr Emmanuel Stamatakis (University College London – Epidemiology and Public Health). November 2008

  To prepare a manuscript to update the childhood obesity trends in England.

• Relationship between social capita and cardiovascular disease – Dr Peymane Adab (University of Birmingham – Public Health & Epidemiology). November 2008

  The data will be used for a 3rd year medical student public health project, where I will supervise the student group in analysing the data. The student will examine the relationship between social capital (using various definitions) and cardiovascular disease.

• Anthropometric Standards of Adults – Dr Richard Palmer-Jones (University of East Anglia – School of Development Studies). November 2008

  I wish to develop anthropometric standards of adults to assess anthropometric achievements in less developed countries.
  Other surveys used: NCDS.

• Trends in risk factors for metabolic disease – Dr Dexter Canoy (University of Manchester – School of Community-based Medicine). October 2008

  This research will describe secular trends in risk factors for chronic metabolic diseases in a nationally-representative sample in England. Variations in secular trends according to age, sex and socio-economic status will be explored. Trends in health status and lifestyle factors related to these risk factors will also be explored.

• Health of migrants and access to health services – Dr Hiranthi Jayaweera (University of Oxford – Centre on Migration, Policy and Society). October 2008

  The research aims to examine large scale datasets to find out information about the health status, health needs and access to health care services among recent migrants to the UK in comparison with established migrants.
  Other surveys used: MCS LFS.

• Black Africans in Britain: Integration or Segregation – Dr Lavinia Mitton (University of Kent – SSPSSR). October 2008

  The data will be used to produce statistics on ability in English and inter-ethnic unions of Black Africans. The data will be used to access the diversity of Black Africans in Britain e.g. by ethnicity, country of origin, country of birth, year of arrival to UK, religion, nationality.
  Other surveys used: LFS MCS BHPS FRS EFS.

• Screening for CVD risk factors – Miss Alexandra Clarke-Cornwell (University of Salford – Centre for Public Health Research). September 2008

  I am currently researching a screening project called 'Find and Treat', which aims to identify all persons (aged 50-74) in AWLPCT that are at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and invite them from a screening interview. At the interview, CVD risk factors are recorded and advice and treatment given accordingley. I would like access the HSE data from the most year that information on CVD risk factors were recorded. This is mainly for background research, in looking into the CVD risk factor profiles overall in England.

• Selenium - lipids – Mr Chen Ji (University of Warwick – Warwick Medical School). September 2008

  To investigate the association between selenium level and cholesterol in the British population. The results will be also compared with American findings.

• Child obesity in UK – Dr Joan Costa Font (University of London School of Economics – Social Policy). September 2008

  To study the determinants of child obesity in the UK using several years exploring the intergenerational transmission of health preferences.
  Other surveys used: NCDS.

• Sodium intake – Mr Chen Ji (University of Warwick – Warwick Medical School). September 2008

  To investigate the geographical effect on sodium and iodine intake and try to draw a map of the iodine status of the UK population.
  Other surveys used: NCDS.

• Obesity eLab – Dr Urara Hiroeh (University of Manchester – Northwest Institute of BioHealth Informatics). September 2008

  We want to analyse obesity trends (BMI, any other fitness level indicators) by age, sex and geographic areas in England. In addition, we are assessing how data is accessed, data available, etc. for obesity research.

• Stratification, health and aging – Dr Gindo Tampubolon (University of Manchester – Sociology). September 2008

  Health inequality is one aspect of an aging population that has recently received a lot of attention. This is an acute issue in advanced countries such as US, Japan and the UK. The focus of this work is whether disadvantages accumulated during working the early stages in the life-course [upbringing, working life] persist into the old age. The stratification of health in the old age, if exist, will have an important policy consequences.
  Other surveys used: ELSA BHPS.

• Decision-Making – Professor Laurence Moseley (University of Glamorgan – SOCS-HESAS). September 2008

  Assessing factors which influence decision-making in medical and other health care fields. We are interested both in the factors which are selected and in the ways in which those factors are combined to reach a decision.
  Other surveys used: JUDGEMENT ANALYSIS OF THE CLINICAL POLICIES OF CARDIOLOGISTS, CARE OF THE ELDERLY SPECIALISTS AND GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, 2002 BSA ADULT PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY SURVEY; 2007 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SURVEY; 2008.

• Scoping to extrapolate to Scotland – Dr Roger Humphry (University of Edinburgh – PHS). September 2008

  An exploratory examination to assess the viability of extrapolation of risk factors and outcomes of cardio-vascular heart disease from HSE data to different ethnic populations in Scotland.

• Health Surveys – Iain Lang (University of Exeter – Pensinsula Medical School). August 2008

  My analyses treat the Health Survey for England data as an epidemiological and public health resource and are focused on examining associations between health behaviours, and associated factors, and health outcomes. I will use the data both cross-sectionally and to look at trends.
  Other surveys used: ELSA WHS.

• Analysis of trends in risk factors – Mr Peter Scarborough (University of Oxford – Public Health). July 2008

  The dataset will be used (along with other HSE datasets previously downloaded under other headings) to examine trends in cardiovascular risk factors by subgroups of the population, and look for possible geographic associations.

• Alcohol-related research – Dr Rachel Seabrook. July 2008

  We aim to educate, preserve and protect the good health of the public by: * promoting the scientific understanding of beverage alcohol and the individual, societal and health consequences of its consumption; and by * promoting measures for the prevention of alcohol-related problems and to promote for the public benefit research into beverage alcohol and to publish the useful results. To this end, we aim to obtain all research and data relating to alcohol.
  Other surveys used: BCS LSYPE GHS.

• Evaluation of nutrition policies – Dr Mario Mazzocchi (University of Reading – Agricultural and Food Economics). July 2008

  Economic analysis to assess the impact of nutrition policies on consumption. Demand models will be employed to build the conter-factual and compare estimated and actual outcomes.
  Other surveys used: EFS NFS.

• Child Obesity in Britain – Dr Joan Costa Font (University of London School of Economics – European Institute). July 2008

  To examine the dynamics and causes of child obesity in Britain and examine whether parents obesity is responsible for children obesity changes.
  Other surveys used: BHPS BCS70.

• Using SPSS for Windows – Mr Oreste De Tommaso (University of Edinburgh – Library, Acquisition and Metadata). July 2008

  The HSE 2002 dataset is going to be used to learn how to analyse and perform basic data management operations using Windows-based software Excel and SPSS. For this purpose, I am going to follow the guide published by ESDS "Using SPSS for Windows: exploring the Health Survey for England 2002". Where possible, the dataset will be downloaded in a format compatible with Excel.

• Population distribution of risk factors for heat-related events – Bridget Fenn (University of LSHTM – PHP). June 2008

  To use the 2006 HSE data to estimate the population distributions of heat-related risk factors [as specified by the DH Heatwave Plan for England 2008] to determine where those vulnerable 'at-risk' people are situated; by sub-groups of sex, age and government region.

• Quest for Quality in the NHS – Dr Kim Sutherland (University of Cambridge – Judge Business School). June 2008

  I am conducting a study collating and reporting on various quality indicators in health.

• Anthropometric indices and CVD risk – Mrs Sigrid Gibson. June 2008

  Proposal to investigate validity of Waist to height ratio (WHtR) as an indicator of cardiovascular risk factors in children and young people Overweight and obesity are commonly defined in children on the basis of BMI reference curves. However, BMI does not distinguish body composition and it is recognised that waist circumference is needed to provide a full picture. Moreover in children it appears that waist circumference is increasing faster than BMI, perhaps as a result of sedentary lifestyles. We suggest that over-reliance on BMI/weight for height measures may miss some children who are at metabolic risk because of a high central body fat distribution, but are not grossly overweight. Conversely, children who are fit, with well developed musculature may be classified as overweight even though they are at low risk, with little abdominal fat.

• International Centre for Lifecourse studies in society and health – Dr Noriko Cable (University of University College London – Epidemiology and Public Health). May 2008

  To conduct original research in four general areas of current scientific and policy interest: Family relationships and child well-being; Education, health and social participation; Health and labour force participation and Ageing and retirement.
  Other surveys used: NCDS BCS70 MCS ELSA BHPS LFS UKHLS.

• Research – Mr Alex Dregan (University of Surrey – Sociology). May 2008

  A range of surveys are used to examine the changes in the prevalence of sleep problems across different social and historical periods over the last four decades. We expect to demonstrate that sleep problems varied by historical time and respondents age. In addition, it is expected that the way that sleep problems were framed will be associated with different trends in prevalence rates both within and between age and gender. These findings will provide a valuable insight into the development of sleep problems over time and their association with different historical and social events.
  Other surveys used: FES NCDS ELSA Omnibus BSA SHES.

• Understanding health trends for performance ingredients – Dr Wayne Martindale (Sheffield Hallam University – Food Innovation Centre). May 2008

  Development of food products that provide and impact on health and performance in sport. The study extends to sports performance where specialist understanding of nutrition is required. Assessment of ingredient use.
  Other surveys used: GHS EFS BCS70.

• Analyse CVD risk – Roberta Ara (University of Sheffield – ScHARR). May 2008

  Identify how Cardiovascular Disease risk increases by age and gender for indivuals with no history of disease using Qrisk

• Reasoning with evidence – Mr James Nicholson (University of Durham – School of Education). April 2008

  Developing ways of visualising relationships in multi-variate data, in health, education social equity etc.
  Other surveys used: NTS FES Vital Statistics YPSA NILTS.

• Health Data Repository – Mr Joe Schaffer (London South Bank University – Health). April 2008

  Development of a geographical database linking health-and health-related data, with the over-arching aim of identifying and reducing health inequalities in London.
  Other surveys used: BHPS.

• Dietary-Obesity Relationship – Dr Damilola Olajide (University of Aberdeen – Health Economics Research Unit, Foresterhill). April 2008

  The study aims to identify a dietary pattern in adults in England. The emerging pattern will be used to provide background information or the reference group against which dietary-obesity relationship will be examined using Scottish Household Survey dataset.
  Other surveys used: SHES BHPS NFS BCS70.

• Quality Measurement Framework programme – Dr Julien Forder (University of London School of Economics – PSSRU). March 2008

  The aim of the QMF programme is to create entirely new mechanisms for more effective and efficient measurement and monitoring of third sector provision of public services, reducing the burden on the third sector while releasing cash through more efficient use of public funds to provide public services. The purpose is to develop methodologies for measuring and assessing the value added of the relevant public services. They will constitute a framework/tool so that service commissioning authorities can assess and monitor the performance of public services delivered by third sector organisations in a way directly comparable with performance of public or private sector providers.

• Health expectancy – Dr Michael Smith (Office for National Statistics – SEMARD Office for National Statistics). March 2008

  Data will be used in the production, analysis and reporting of Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE) and Disability free LIFE Expectency (DfLE).
  Other surveys used: GHS NICHS SHES WHS.

• Social and political trust 2 – Dr Patrick Sturgis (University of Surrey – Sociology). March 2008

  Project investigating longitudinal and comparative variation in social and political trust. We intend to use this data to fit a multi-level structural equation model incorporating neighbourhood characteristics.

• Targeting those at highest risk in a heat-wave – Bridget Fenn (University of LSHTM – PHP). February 2008

  Data on multiple risk exposure, including their relationships, would be important for targeting preventive interventions for those subgroups at highest risk of heat-related mortality. Using data from the Health Survey for England and applying secondary risks from other research to determine the degree to which those at highest risk of heat-related mortality can be identified.

• Estimating the prevalence of 'Predictive' CVD risk of Central Lancashire Population – Gabriel Agboado (Chorley & South Ribble PCT – Public Health). February 2008

  The data on blood pressure, smoking, BMI, serum Cholesterol, diabetes etc. will be used to estimate the risk of CVDs in HSE population. The pevalence of CVD risk by age and sex between 10% and 20% over ten years will be estmated using the Fragmingham risk equation and this will used to model the prevalence in Central Lancashire.

• GHQ12 norms in women – Dr Jon Pollock (University of West of England – School of Health & Social Care). February 2008

  GHQ12 norms for women of child bearing age are required to compare with those receiving the Primary Mental Health Service (Under 5s). Comparative analysis will show if service users have a distinct mental health profile at the time of referral and to what extent this changes over the treatment period.

• Prospective relationship between low blood pressure and fatigue – Dr William Lee (University of King's College London – Psychological Medicine). January 2008

  Among those participants who did not report being fatigued at HALS1, were those who had low blood pressure but were otherwise healthy at greater risk of reporting being fatigued at HALS2. I will take sex, age, BMI, physical exercise level and ethnicity into account.

• Deprivation and development – Professor Laurence Moseley (University of Glamorgan – SOCS-HESAS). January 2008

  An analysis of data in rural areas in England with a view to trying to uncover the barriers to, and stimulators of, economic progress.
  Other surveys used: APS GHS WHS Omnibus MCS.

• Wage detemination by area – Professor David Blanchflower (University of Stirling – Economics). January 2008

  I want to access wage data to continue my work on wage determination in the UK. This builds on work on wage curves I have done over the years as well as work on private and public sector wage determination.
  Other surveys used: LFS APS FRS.

• Health and happiness – Professor David Blanchflower (University of Stirling – Economics). January 2008

  Work on happiness and health and their determinants including blood pressure, obesity and height. These data will also be used to examine depression and mental health.
  Other surveys used: BSA SHES WHS NCDS BCS70.

• Ethnic differences in diet, physical activity and obesity – Miss Vanessa Higgins (University of Manchester – CCSR). January 2008

  The aim is to provide an understanding of patterns of healthy eating and physical activity that underlie ethnic differences in obesity and BMI levels.

• Economics of Health – Dr Vanessa Beck (University of Leicester – CLMS). December 2007

  The data will be used for a project that aims to examine the relationship between mental and physical health and employability, labour market participation and economic performance with specific attention given to the direction of causal relationships.
  Other surveys used: LFS .

• Comparison of survey questionnaire design2 – Dr Genevieve Groom (Office for National Statistics – SEMARD). December 2007

  We are conducting a project to compare GHS survey responses of self-reported health using a 5-point and a 3-point scale. We wish to compare the prevalence figures of HSE self-reported health to externally validate the robustness of our GHS sample.

• Regional differences in cohabiting, diet and health – Dr Seraphim Alvanides (University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne – Geography, Politics & Sociology). December 2007

  Recent research concluded that women eat more unhealthy foods and tend to put on weight when they move in with a male partner. The research highlighted major health issues that couples need to address as a team early on in their relationship. This project will provide further evidence, while controlling for other factors such as exercise, childbirth and regional differences.
  Other surveys used: BHPS FACS.

• Developing a Meals on Wheels Partnership – Mr David Goswell (University of Bristol – Social Policy). December 2007

  Looking to gather data on usage of meals on wheels service to see if there are linkages to health needs, e.g. do those receiving meals on wheels have other health needs?
  Other surveys used: EFS GHS.

• PCT local health – Ms Liz Walton (Burnley, Pendle & Rossendale PCT – Public Health). December 2007

  To provide Blackburn with Darwen PCT with comparative VS data from previous years, to better inform public health planning for maternal and child health.
  Other surveys used: Vital Statistics.

• HSE vs Hertfordshire Ageing Study characteristics – Mrs Holly Syddall (University of Southampton – MRC ERC). November 2007

  To assess the representativeness of participants in our Hertfordshire Ageing Study. We will be particularly interested to compare the characteristics of the two studies in terms of grip strength, chair rises, falls, medications, self-reported health (i.e. a panel of ageing markers).

• Disabled children's experiences – Dr Harriet Clarke (University of Birmingham – Institute of Applied Social Studies). November 2007

  The aim of this project it to explore the fanily circumstances of both disabled children and children with long term health difficulties in the UK.

• Analysis of regional trends inphysical activity for the North East Physical Activity Data Mapping Project – Miss Gillian Bryant (University of Durham – NEPHO). November 2007

  The data will be used to map trends in the uptake of physical activity over time, between regions and age groups. Where possible, correlations with possible confounders such as ethnicity, deprivation, employment and health status may also be performed. This data will inform the NE physical activity data mapping report, which aims to document all available physical activity data sources within the NE to help establish the current evidence base and identify possible gaps for future research.
  Other surveys used: NTS GHS TimeUse.

• Obesity and mental wellbeing – Dr Stephen Morris (Brunel University – HERG). November 2007

  The aim of this usage is to delineate the relationship between obesity and mental wellbeing. Obesity will be measured using the BMI varibale in the HSE and mental wellbeing will be measured using GHQ-12 scores. The aim is to regress GHQ-12 scores at the individual level against individual BMI plus covariates.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Unmet need for interpreting services in England and Wales: secondary analysis of a national survey – Dr Paramjit Gill (University of Birmingham – Primary Care & General Practice). November 2007

  Increased global migration has increased linguistic diversity in the major cities and increased the need for interpreting services. It is established that more than 300 languages, excluding dialects, are spoken by children in London probably making it the most linguistically diverse city in the world. Further, high-quality medical care requires effective communication between both the patient and health professional. However, there is a dearth of data on the number of people requiring language support amongst the minority ethnic communities.

• Quantitative Review of Cambridgeshire Home Improvement Agencies (HIAs) surveys and contextual data. – Mr Ric Euteneuer. October 2007

  Predictions of future client base and establishing the contributions that HIAs can make to the commissioners' drivers and PIs. Disability prevalence data projected into the future to establish future customer base for Cambridgeshire and LA areas.

• Secondary data analysis – Dr Nicola Dempsey (Oxford Brookes University – Architecture). October 2007

  A scoping study on quality of life and quality of public space. It is hoped that data from the Health Survey of England on a number of indicators would be statistically analysed to ascertain relationships using correlation and regression analyses if possible. Other demographic/social/economic variables would be needed for controls.
  Other surveys used: ELSA.

• International Comparsions of the Social Determinants of Health, 1972-2005 – Mr Robert Hawes. October 2007

  A historical review of risk factors for chronic disease in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom for the period 1978 - 2005. Specifically, this analysis will employ a 'social determinants of health' perspective to model the simultaneous contribution of gender, education, income, immigrant status, rural residence and ethnicity in the prediction of chronic disease risk factors. In addition, the proposed analysis requires that the age of the respondent be included as a continuous variable to model the quadratic (squared) function of risk factors over time.
  Other surveys used: WHS SHES BHPS.

• Description of diet and physical activity levels – Dr Peymane Adab (University of Birmingham – Public Health & Epidemiology). October 2007

  The data will be used to supervise 3rd year medical students doing a project in Public Health. The students will be asked to explore the data, summarise and describe the dietary habits, physical activity levels and level of overweight and obesity among participants in the 2005 survey. They will look at the sample by age and sex, and go on to examine the relationships between diet, physical activity and BMI in this population.

• Microgeography of UK demographic change 1991-2001 – Dr Paul Norman (University of Leeds – School of Geography). September 2007

  This project will quantify and map changes in population size and social characteristics which occurred in small geographical areas across the UK between 1991 and 2001. Separately estimated components of demographic change will reveal the relative contributions of natural change and migration. Deprivation indexes will identify areas becoming differently deprived over time and will highlight changes in unemployment, health and housing tenure patterns. These analyses will inform on locations where the population is ageing or more transient, along with small area trends in health and well-being and in poverty and wealth.
  Other surveys used: Vital Statistics.

• Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases – Dr Irene Petersen (University of University College London – Primary Care and Population Sciences). September 2007

  I would like to compare the distribution of various risk factors such as BMI, blood pressure, alcohol and smoking for cardiovascular diseases in Health survey for England with data from primary care databases like the General Practice Research Database and The health Improvement Network.

• Self-Assessed Health Trends – Ms Patricia Andreski. September 2007

  We will use these data to compare self-assessed health trends among people 18 years of age or older. Self-assessed health is measured in the PSID for 1984-2007, and the NHIS since 1982.

• Prevalence of obesity in self reported chronic conditions – Paul Roderick (University of Southampton – HCRU). September 2007

  I want to examine the prevalence of obesity and overweight using BMI data against self reported chronic conditions coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive airways disease and asthma.

• Obesity microsimulation modelling – Mr Tim Marsh. September 2007

  To use the data to create a microsimulation model of future trends of obesity and associated chronic diseases.

• Cultural transmission of trust – Dr Sanna Read (University of Surrey – Sociology). September 2007

  This study is part of the project 'Social and Political Trust' and the aim is to investigate the cultural transmission and assortative mating in terms of trust. For this purpose the BHPS data will be used to identify the parents and their children for the extended kinship models of trust.
  Other surveys used: BHPS.

• Emigration from the UK - trends, causes and consequences – Ms Jane Roberts (Oxford: Nuffield College – Social Studies). August 2007

  The aim of the research is to explore in more detail the patterns of emigration from the UK and to understand the causes of this movement, at the macro level (economic and demographic correlates) and micro level (individual motivations for leaving). Particular attention will be focussed on the recent substantial increase in emigration and its causes, and in the longer-term consequences of the continuation of such flows.
  Other surveys used: Household SAR APS.

• National long-term conditions policy – Mr Roger Halliday (Department of Health). July 2007

  Provide an evidence base for national policy to improve health care and well-being of people with long-term conditions.
  Other surveys used: GHS FRS LFS Omnibus.

• Prediction of future ageing profile – Dr William Bains (Cambridge: Gonville and Caius College – Institute of Biotechnology). July 2007

  I am running a study to extrapolate changes in ageing and mortality to future mortality curves, based on a statistical mechanics model of the ageing process. To support this I want detailed information about morbidity and mortality in the last 50 years.
  Other surveys used: NCDS.

• DH policy analysis – Mr Jason Pickles (Department of Health – Policy and Support). June 2007

  Measuring and analsyis of the impact of the Department of Health health reform policy on the NHS.

• Prevalence, characteristics and health service use of patients with COPD – Dr Rachel Jordan (University of Birmingham – Public Health & Epidemiology). June 2007

  A study to describe prevalence of COPD (as measured by FEV1/FVC) by several variables (age, sex, smoking status, ethnicity, socioeconomic status). Also to describe characteristics and health service use of patients with diagnosed and undiagnosed COPD, by severity of obstruction.

• Bournemouth University IHCS Statistics teaching – Dr Sarah Hean (Bournemouth University – School of health and community studies). June 2007

  We are developing an e-learning package to teach statistics to postgraduate students in health and would like to include actual data to introduce students to aspects such as indices etc. We would also like to raise their awareness of secondary datasets and their uses.

• A profile of health during winter – Mr Rhys Gibbon (Velindre NHS Trust – HIIT). May 2007

  The patterns in determinants of health and health outcomes associated with seasonality, specifically here the difference in number of RTC's across the year.

• Non-communicable diseases, work and lifestyle in OECD countries – Ms Ana Llena-Nozal. May 2007

  This is an OECD project to compare the evolution on non-communicable diseases over time in OECD countries.
  Other surveys used: BHPS.

• Presence of intellectual disability in HIS – Ms Christine Linehan (University College Dublin – School of Psychology). May 2007

  Examination of European HIS for inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities (termed learning disability in UK).
  Other surveys used: GHS SHES.

• Alcohol use – Dr Nicola Fear (University of King's College London – Academic Centre for Defence Mental Health). May 2007

  To make age and gender adjusted comparisons on alcohol usage with a cross-sectional survey of military personnel.
  Other surveys used: Vital Statistics GHS.

• Stepparenting health – Paul Boyle (University of St Andrews – Geography and Geosciences). April 2007

  This study will examine the health of step-parents. Considerable research has examined the health of step-children, but few studies have considered step-parent health. We will be using logit regression models to compare the health status (limiting long-term illness and general health) of step-parents, compared to natural parents and single adults. We will include a range of additional explanatory variables in the model, which are expected to be related to health status. We will also examine whether there are geographical variations in the incidence of step-parenting, and whether there are significant differences between different areas in the influence of step-parenting on health.
  Other surveys used: Household SAR SHES APS BHPS LSYPE NCDS.

• Analysis of disability-free life expectancy – Dr Domenica Rasulo (Office for National Statistics – SHARD). April 2007

  Data will be analysed to investigate the disability free-life expectancy in England.
  Other surveys used: GHS ELSA.

• An analysis of the prevalence of COPD in England by occupational group – Mr John Hodgson. March 2007

  I intend to carry out an analysis of COPD prevalence (as measured in the Health Survey for England 2001 invarious ways) by occupational group. The intention is to identify - to the extent that the data will allow - occupational groups with high prevalence of COPD in order to inform the direction of more targeted research and HSE decisions for priority areas in trying to reduce the burden of occupational COPD.

• Hypertension, dyslipidaemia and both – Dr Steve Morant. March 2007

  Repeat of study carried out with HSE 1998. The aim is to compare the prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and combined disease with diagnosed rates in a GP database (The Health Improvement Network) in order to assess the extent of under diagnosis and under treatment.

• Research – Professor Jim McKenna (Leeds Metropolitan University – Carnegie Research Institute). March 2007

  I am currently writing a book chapter and want to run some analyses of health behaviours according to the new classification scheme for blood pressure.
  Other surveys used: NFS.

• ePsychNurse.Net – Ms Veslemoy Guise (University of St George's Hospital Medical School – Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences). March 2007

  The data will form part of an educational needs analysis undertaken for the ePsychNurse.Net project. The project is an international collaboration which seeks to develop e-learning tools for mental health nurses in regards to the prevention and management of violence and aggression.
  Other surveys used: APS.

• The relationship between nutrition and health – Dr Mario Mazzocchi (University of Reading – Agricultural and Food Economics). March 2007

  Statistical analysis of socio-demographics, health status and dietary habits. The research is aimed at developing a model of food demand, where the health status is treated as endogenous. The first step requires merging household consumption data with data retrieved from the diet and nutrition survey.
  Other surveys used: EFS.

• Early geographical correlates of health – Professor Robert Kaestner. March 2007

  Study whether infant mortality at the time of birth has effect on health at older ages. Using data on infant mortality at the administrative (county) level, analyze whether increases in infant mortality during WWII are associated with adverse health events in later life.
  Other surveys used: ELSA BHPS.

• How Does Ethnicity Affect the association between Obesity and Diabetes? – Mr Mark Carnemolla. February 2007

  To examine the utility of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist to height ratio (WHR) in assessing diabetes risk across different ethnic groups. Cross-sectional analysis of eight ethnic groups from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and 2003-2004 Health Survey for England (HSE). Adults > 20 years old, self-reported as Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black, Mexican American, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Indian, Chinese or Black Caribbean were evaluated for diabetes, defined as self-report of a doctor diagnosis or Hemoglobin A1c >6.1. Ethnic differences exist in the prevalence of diabetes, even in those characterized as normal weight by BMI. Thus, clinicians need to exercise caution in interpreting the diabetes risk associated with a normal BMI. The use of other anthropometric measures, such as WC or WHR, may improve risk determination across different ethnic groups. More research is needed to determine the thresholds for different anthropometric measures that improve diabetes risk determination.

• Teaching – Dr Robert Evans (Cardiff University – School of Social Sciences). February 2007

  Data for teaching and assessment in Quantitative Methods on ESRC recognised 1+3 MSc Social Science Research Methods
  Other surveys used: Omnibus.

• Financial exclusion among social housing tenants – Mr George Marshall. February 2007

  We want to inform a campaign by the National Housing Federation on the incidence of financial exclusion among social housing tenants, what form it takes - i.e. what financial services tenants do and do not take up, what households it particularly impacts on, trends, etc.
  Other surveys used: FRS EFS SEH.

• Identifying substance misusing parents – Ms Victoria Manning (University of King's College London – Psychological Medicine). February 2007

  We would like to be able to identify people who have dependent children living with them and who use alcohol or other illicit substances to examine types of potential harm.
  Other surveys used: MCS BCS NCDS BCS70.

• Health services use (GP and outpatient) – Dr Jose Maria Valderas Martinez (University of Manchester – Primary Care). February 2007

  Determine visits to GP and outpatient visits, to establish comparisons with other availables databases with similar information.

• Quantitative Research Methods – Dr Emma Uprichard (University of Durham – School of Applied Social Studies). January 2007

  I'm looking for suitable teaching datasets with which to teach introductory statistics to MA Gender Studies students.
  Other surveys used: YPSA BHPS.

• PhD – Miss Jaycee Pownall (NHS Greater Glasgow – Psychological Medicine). January 2007

  PhD examining health behaviours and knowledge in young people with and without disabilities. Wish to examine survey for part of the literature review for this study.

• Health Service Resource Allocation – Dr Alexander Gibson (University of Plymouth – Faculty of Health and Social Work). January 2007

  Study of the health care resource allocation process and outcome. The particular focus is on health service equity.
  Other surveys used: Vital Statistics.

• Physical activity project NICE (Government) – Mr Matthew Bending (University of York – York Health Economics Consortium ltd). January 2007

  The project involves assessing the environmental interventions that will increase physical activity levels in the general population. The data is required for one part of the project that involves an econometric analyses of physical activity and health. The relationship will be found using the self assessed health (SAH) questions within the data.

• Violence and Society – Dr Simon Moore (Cardiff University – Oral Surgery, Medicine and Pathology). December 2006

  To examine the causes and correlates of violence in UK society.
  Other surveys used: LFS BCS BHPS BCS70.

• Measuring equality – Dr Tania Burchardt (University of London School of Economics – CASE). December 2006

  The new Commission on Equality and Human Rights will monitor equality in Britain by gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and religion/belief. This project is developing a framework for measurement for the CEHR.
  Other surveys used: LFS BSA BCS FRS BHPS FES HBAI.

• Physical disability health needs assessment – Dr Araceli Busby (Lewisham PCT – public health). December 2006

  I am carrying out a needs assessment for adults with long term physical disability in Lewisham on behalf of the PCT. Ths is to inform the commissioning of services for adults with physical disabilty. I require benchmark information about the prevalence of physical disability in Lewisham and intend to use both local data and extrapolated National dtaa to estimate this.
  Other surveys used: Vital Statistics.

• Impact of WHO dietary norms on consumption of food products in the UK – Dr Chittur Srinivasan (University of Reading – Agricultural and Food Economics). December 2006

  This research is intended to assess the impact of adhering to WHO dietary norms on the consumption of selected food products in the UK. The analysis is proposed to be done by demographic groups as defined in the Expenditure and Food Survey. Linear programming and econometric approaches will both be used.
  Other surveys used: EFS.

• Demography, Politics and Old Age – Dr John Vincent (University of Exeter – Sociology). November 2006

  To provide empirical support of a paper I am writing based on a continuing interest in politics and old age.
  Other surveys used: NICHS FES BSA LFS GHS EFS BHPS.

• Mental Health LAAs – Miss Rebecca Lee (University of Durham – NEPHO). November 2006

  Consultation in relation to the Public Mental health Observatory's 2006/07 SLA with CSIP/NIMHE has revealed a number of priorities including: indicators for mental health and well being; mental health promotion; mental illness needs index; support for Local Area Agreements; and as yet unspecified research reports. It is envisaged that access to Health Survey for England Data will be necessary to underpin all these projects and additional commitments as they are identified.

• Estimation of BMI by demographic variables and by Strategic Health Authorities – Mr James Chambers. November 2006

  The Health surveys of England, Wales and Scotland will be used to estimate the BMI by demographic factors by Strategic Health Authorities. This information will then be used for a budget impact model. .
  Other surveys used: WHS SHES.

• Characterising the underweight population – Dr Shona Kelly (University of Nottingham – Epidemiology & Public Health). November 2006

  Research to characterise the underweight population as to their health status. There is conflicting information, but little research, that suggests the underweight (BMI <18.5) are all ill. This project will examine the health status of the underweight.

• Student projects – Professor Christine Liddell (University of Ulster – Psychology). November 2006

  To use the database for undergraduate dissertation training. Students will be trained to use the database, then will generate their own hypotheses bases on their relevant literature searches. They will go on to test them using the database and manual.
  Other surveys used: GHS BCS70 NCDS.

• Obesity prevention – Dr Tim Lobstein (University of Sussex – SPRU). October 2006

  To identify potential target populations who would be able to benefit from local and population-wide strategies to counter obesity in adults in Britain.
  Other surveys used: EFS.

• Study in morbidity of diseases – Mr Davidson Ho (University of Bristol – Social Medicine). October 2006

  Study in morbidity of common diseases like heart diseases and diabetes. In particular, to compute and compare the prevalances of diabetes in different geographical areas (SHA, PCTs) in the South West NHS region.

• Population Health in the North West – Mr Tom Hennell (Department of Health – NW Public Health Team). October 2006

  The survey data will be analysed to examine regional, national, ethnicity and income trends in key health and social care risk factors - smoking, education, health status, alcohol consumption, disability and usage of health services - in particular, so as to set the context for local lifestyle surveys.
  Other surveys used: GHS LFS APS.

• Mental Health Inequalities in the UK – Mr Nathan Fosse. October 2006

  This is intended to compare the inequalities in mental health in the UK. Its goal is primarily exploratory in nature, for a class on medical sociology. I will conduct both bivariate regression and standard OLS models.

• Health Profiles - Mental Health – Mr Stuart Simms (County Durham and Tees Valley SHA/WDC – Public Health). October 2006

  The GHQ12 data collected as part of the HSE may form part of the indicator set of the second edition of the Association of Public Health Observatories' Health Profiles project.

• Teaching quantitative methods – Dr Paul Norman (University of Leeds – School of Geography). October 2006

  Various datasets will be used as exemplars during the teaching of quantitative research methods to Masters and PhD students at the School of Geography, University of Leeds.
  Other surveys used: LFS BCS GHS SEH.

• Research – Dr Fiona Williams (University of Liverpool – Public health). October 2006

  A planned study to examine effects of secondhand smoke on children in the home. we wish to look at cotinine data from the HSE to inform us of exisiting evidence.

• Intellectual Disability in HSE – Professor Eric Emerson (Lancaster University – Institute for Health Research). September 2006

  To explore the possibility of using Health Survey for England data to investigate health and health-related lifestyles of children and adults with intellectual disabilities in England.

• Occupational exposures and respiratory disorders – Dr Deborah Jarvis (University of Imperial College – Dept Respiratory Epdiemiology and Public health). September 2006

  I am aiming to collate the HSE data files to examine the assoscation of stated occupation with respiratory disorders with a particular interest in women.

• Replicating Banks et al., JAMA May 3, 2006 – Professor Lynn Roy LaMotte. September 2006

  The data will be used by graduate biostatistics students under my suprevision to replicate the statistical analyses in the May 3, 2006, paper by J. Banks et al. in J. Amer. Med. Assoc.
  Other surveys used: ELSA.

• Alcohol and older people – Miss Laura Banks (University of Brighton – HSPRC). September 2006

  Data on alcohol consumption by age is required for an age concern / DAT project looking at alcohol misuse amongst older people, with a view to developing services in an area of Brighton and Hove.
  Other surveys used: GHS EFS.

• Inequalities in health – Dr Martin Wall (University of East London – Health and Bioscience). September 2006

  Within the UK I am studying the linkages between ethnicity, socio economic status and demographic characteristics on health. This is intended to focus more on preventative health care and identify risk factors for mental health service need.

• Chronic Fatigue and Ethnicity – Dr Sokratis Dinos (University of Queen Mary – Centre for Psychiatry). September 2006

  Prevalence of chronic fatigue in a nationally representative sample of six ethnic groups. Data from this dataset will be combined with data from the HSE 1998/99 to test explaratory models of chronic fatigue.

• Health and labour force participation – Professor Mel Bartley (University of University College London – Epidemiology). August 2006

  This study examines the role of health in exit from the labour force in middle age. The hypothesis is that the same level of physical or mental disability will have different consequences for labour force exit in persons of different socio-economic level.
  Other surveys used: ELSA GHS.

• Smoking behaviour and smoke intake – Professor Martin Jarvis (University of University College London – Epidemiology and Public health). August 2006

  My research aims to examine the association between smoking behaviour and smoke intake as indexed by cotinine in relation to factors such as socio-economic status, age, gender and product smoked. I do not have financial support from a funder for this work.
  Other surveys used: Omnibus GHS NCDS ELSA.

• Modelling variation in chronic diseases – Dr Wayne Harrison (University of Birmingham – Public Health & Epidemiology). August 2006

  The data will be used to help populate prevelance tables of aspects of chronic conditions. It will also be used to model the effect of measurement variation on appropriateness of treament.
  Other surveys used: SHES.

• Trends in obesity and fat distribution in England and Wales – Dr Dexter Canoy (University of Manchester – Northwest Institute for Bio-health Informatics). July 2006

  The prevalence of obesity has been increasing worldwide including the UK. Obesity is normally defined using body mass index a surrogate marker for excess weight. However, recent studies suggest that fat distribution could be a better phenotype for adiposity that is more closely associated with the metabolic risks of excess fat than body mass index. We aim to describe trends in fat distribution pattern over time and determine its associated factors (such as smoking prevalence).

• Monitoring Public Health in West Kent 2006 – Mrs Helen Buttivant (Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospitals NHS Trust – Kent & Medway Health Informatics Service). July 2006

  Data on health and health behaviours will be used to provide analysis which informs and directs the planning of a variety of Public Health Initiatives across the Kent and Medway health economy.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Synthetic estimates – Mr Peter Scarborough (University of Oxford – Public Health). July 2006

  The data will be pooled and used to produce synthetic estimates of the prevalence of healthy lifestyle behaviour at ward and local authority level in England.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Factor structure of the GHQ-12 – Mr Matthew Hankins (University of King's College London – Psychology (at Guy's)). June 2006

  Many studies have found the GHQ-12 to be a multidimensional measure rather than the unidimensional measure proposed. I believe the apparent 2- or 3- factor solution found in these studies (and confirmed in further studies) are artefacts of the wording of the 12 items of the questionnaire. I have demonstrated this in a dataset of 1300 women attending screening, (paper in preparation) but a general population sample would be a useful confirmation of the hypothesis that the factor structure resulting from PCA is entirely artefactual, and the GHQ-12 is unidimensional.
  Other surveys used: BHPS ELSA GHS.

• Methodological Research on Analysis of Household Survey Data – Dr Robert Clark. June 2006

  Different methods of analysing household survey data will be compared, and new methods will be developed.
  Other surveys used: GHS BSA BHPS.

• Smoking Cessation Equity Audit – Miss Kuiama Kittos (Salford PCT – Public Health). June 2006

  I am carrying out an equity audit of the Salford smoking cessation service. I intend to look at whether the people attending the smoking cessation service match the expected number of attendees from different ethnic groups and living in areas with different levels of deprivation

• Predicting GP Workload – Mr Michael Vickerman (Department of Health – DAT). May 2006

  For use by Department of Health analysts to feed into predictions of GP workload based on measures of the additional needs of patients determined by their age, sex. level of deprivation etc.

• Impact of antenatal care – Dr Monica Magadi (Loughborough University – Social Sciences). May 2006

  For training/teaching purposes

• Iron deficiency in the general population – Mr David Mold (North-West London Hospitals (Northwick Park site) – Haematology). May 2006

  A study of the prevalence of iron deficiency in the general population and its effect of elective surgery.

• Relationship between child anthropometry and respiratory health – Dr Veronica Tuffrey (University of Westminster – Community and Collaborative Practice). April 2006

  I intend to look at the associations between growth of children and respiratory health.

• Relationship between educational status and CVD – Dr Veronica Tuffrey (University of Westminster – Community and Collaborative Practice). April 2006

  Investigation of the possible causal pathways explaining the association between educational level and CVD.

• Statistics teaching – Dr Veronica Tuffrey (University of Westminster – Community and Collaborative Practice). April 2006

  I intend to use this dataset for illustrating techniques of statistical analysis to our M.Sc. students.

• Safer Manual Handling in the Bariatric Patient Journey – Ms Susan Chipchase (Loughborough University – Human Sciences). April 2006

  The Health and Safety Executive are funding a 1 year study to investigate the safer manual handling of bariatric patients during their patient journey from home to hospital to discharge. Anthropometric and demographic data relating to bariatric patients will be analysed to estimate the current and future population of bariatric patients.

• Teaching only – Dr Jo Wathan (University of Manchester – CCSR). March 2006

  Postgraduate teaching
  Other surveys used: BSA NTS LFS.

• Looking at People's Physical Activity Levels (PAL) – Mr James Riley. March 2006

  Hoping to compare peoples PAL from the HSE to the NDNS

• MSc Research Methods – Mr Nick Foard (Nottingham Trent University – Graduate School). March 2006

  Data will be used for teaching purposes on a module entitled 'Advanced Data Analysis' on the MSc Research Methods at Nottingham Trent University.
  Other surveys used: BSA GHS Omnibus BHPS ELSA .

• Estimates of Framingham CVD risk – Ms Margaret May (University of Bristol – Social Medicine). March 2006

  Project for WHO. Estimating percentage of population by sex and agegroup who have Framingham 1 year risk of CVD above certain thresholds.

• Analysis of falls – Mr Seng Chuen Tan (University of Southampton – Wessex Institute). March 2006

  To analyse fall incidence rates among the elderly and the associated risk factors as a background studies for proposing a trial project.

• Synthetic estimates DPhil – Mr Peter Scarborough (University of Oxford – Public Health). February 2006

  The data I request will be used for my DPhil project, exploring the geographic and social variations of Coronary Heart Disease in England.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Health service use by people with long term conditions – Mr Roger Halliday (Department of Health – Department of Health). February 2006

  Policy analysis of the use made of different parts of the health service by people with different long term conditions.
  Other surveys used: GHS LFS ELSA BHPS.

• Bicycle safety – Dr Iain Lang (University of Exeter – Peninsula Medical School). February 2006

  Injuries related to bicycle use.
  Other surveys used: NTS.

• Academic research into geography of social attitudes – Professor John Mohan (University of Southampton – Sociology and Social Policy). February 2006

  This is in connection with a project to investigate variations in attitudes to welfare services between places.
  Other surveys used: BSA GHS SEH BCS.

• Health and life-style among young adults in England – Dr Sabu Padmadas (University of Southampton – Social Statistics). January 2006

  To develop a proposal which in due course will be submitted to the ESRC for funding.
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Research – Dr Mark Elliot (University of Manchester – CCSR). January 2006

  Research on linkage.
  Other surveys used: LFS GHS.

• Volunteering – Dr Iain Lang (University of Exeter – Peninsula Medical School). December 2005

  Examination of time spent volunteering
  Other surveys used: TimeUse Omnibus.

• Respiratory and allergic disease and exogenous hormones – Dr Deborah Jarvis (University of King's College London – Department of Public Health). November 2005

  I would like to examine the association of respiratory and allergic disease with use of exogenous hormones in young and middle aged women. I will use data collected from the Health Survey for England 2001.
  Other surveys used: BCS70.

• Child obesity – Ms Naomi Holman (Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – Health Inics Service). November 2005

  Analysis of obese, overweight and underweight children in the Bradford district in a national context.

• diabetes and depression – Dr Martin Gulliford (University of King's College London – Public Health Sciences). November 2005

  To evaluate depression in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects

• Evaluation of primary mental health care services for pre-school children – Dr Jon Pollock (University of West of England – Faculty of Health and Social Care). November 2005

  Providing a comparison group for maternal GHQ norms in an evaluation study of primary mental health services for the under-fives.

• Review of international datasets – Dr Tim Lobstein (International Association for the Study of Obesity – Research). October 2005

  Non-governmental voluntary organisation.

• Trends in blood pressure amongst children from the Black and minority ethnic communities – Dr Paramjit Gill (University of Birmingham – Primary Care and General Practice). October 2005

  Data will be used as part of a Masters dissertation.

• The changing social patterning of obesity: an analysis to inform practice and policy development – Dr Thomas Chadwick (University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne – School of Population and Health Sciences). September 2005

  The prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to increase. Long-term consequences include raised risk of developing hypertension and stroke, coronary heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis and certain cancers. Recently, a socioeconomic gradient in the prevalence of excess body weight has emerged, such that it has increasingly become a condition associated with lower socioeconomic position. For example, in the 1958 birth cohort no socioeconomic gradient in overweight or obesity was observed in childhood or young adulthood, but a gradient has emerged in mid-life. Recent cross-sectional studies suggest that socioeconomic gradients have become established in childhood. The emergence of these gradients may be linked, since parental fatness predicts childhood fatness. The emerging socioeconomic gradient of obesity in children is of particular concern both because overweight and obese children have increased risk of obesity in adult life and weight management interventions among children and young adults are of limited effectiveness. Evidence from a longstanding national dietary survey indicates that in the post-war years absolute energy intakes have gradually decreased. This suggests that declining levels of energy expenditure from habitual physical activity (PA) are likely to have played an important role in the emerging obesity epidemic. However, less is known about the social patterning of diet and PA and their relative importance as correlates of overweight and obesity among different population groups. The UK has a range of datasets which permit cross-sectional, longitudinal and inter-generational analyses of socioeconomic trends in obesity, and in its suspected influences (diet, PA and parental body mass). We propose to use up to six of these datasets to investigate age, sex and socioeconomic trends in: * overweight and obesity, using national cross-sectional and longitudinal data * weight gain among parents and its influence on weight gain in children, using national cohort studies * indicators of the changing epidemiology of diet and PA, using national cross-sectional and longitudinal data If possible, we will extend our analyses to include the ethnic patterning of diet, PA and obesity, using the ethnically boosted 2004 data from the Health Survey for England (HSE).
  Other surveys used: SHES.

• Home environment and respiratory health study – Dr Liesl Osman (University of Aberdeen – Medicine). September 2005

  EAGA
  Other surveys used: GHS.

• Human capability and resilience: ESRC network – Professor Mel Bartley (University College London – Epidemiology and Public Health). September 2005

  A network of six projects that investigate human capability and resilience in their social and geographical contexts.

• Population based multilevel analysis – Mr Hu Yongjian (University of Southampton – Department of Social Statistics). September 2005

  To use the British Household Panel Survey to make population-based multilevel analysis on the complex interactions between people, places and mental health.
  Other surveys used: BHPS.

• Social Statistics and Data Analysis Online Course – Mr Philip Edwards (University of Manchester – Law). September 2005

  Datasets are being used to update the online course in Social Statistics and Data Analysis offered by the University of Manchester School of Law (course ID LW2452).
  Other surveys used: LFS ELSA.

• Study of addiction and gender orientation in the Lambeth area – Mr Paul Harrington (South London and Maudsley Mental Health NHS Trust – Library). September 2005

  Comparing drug and alcohol use among different sexual orientations.

• Analysis of the impact of overweight, obesity and smoking on cardiovascular risk and the need for statin, aspirin and antihypertensive treatment for primary prevention in the British population. – Dr Erica Wallis (University of Sheffield – Clinical Pharmacology). September 2005

  I wish to examine the impact of overweight and smoking on estimated cardiovascular (CVD) risk and the need for primary prevention with statins, aspirin and antihypertensives in the British population according to current guidelines. The relationship between CVD risk factors, estimated CVD risk and need for preventative treatments and body mass index (BMI) and smoking will be illustrated and quantified and the potential reduction in estimated CVD risk and need for preventative treatments with progressive elimination of overweight and smoking from the population will be calculated.

• Teaching material – Dr Robert Evans (Cardiff University – School of Social Sciences). September 2005

  Teaching quantitative data analysis methods to students on a postgraduate research methods course.
  Other surveys used: LFS BCS.

• Weight gain in chronic pain – Dr Jeremy Gauntlett-Gilbert (Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases – Pain Management). September 2005

  I wish to compare our data on weight and weight gain in people with chronic pain with up-to-date population statistics.

• Analysis of incentives in care pathways – Mr Chris Gibbins (Department of Health – Corporate Analytical Team). August 2005

  The data will be used, along with data from a range of other sources, in an analysis of the incentives operating at key decision points in patients care pathways into secondary care. Initial analysis will focus on patients with chest pain.
  Other surveys used: ELSA.

• Smoking Section – Miss Abigail Fox (KAI: Analysis). August 2005

  The smoking section of the data will be analysed for the purpose of deriving the average amount of cigarettes smoked.
  Other surveys used: GHS Omnibus.

• Exposure to air pollution and risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease – Dr Lindsay Forbes (University of King's College London – Public Health Sciences). August 2005

  The data will be used in a research project which aims to examine associations between air pollution across England and cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes from the Health Survey.

• Why the lag globally in obesity trends for children as compared to adults? – Professor Barry Popkin. June 2005

  There is crude anecdotal data from a number of countries that suggests that adult energy imbalance and increases in obesity emerge decades before that for children. Others who have studied mothers and children have noted something similar, again without rigorous analysis to confirm this issue. If indeed such patterns do exist and if they vary systematically over time and space, this will lead to a number of important explorations about the causal patterns behind obesity trends globally. This paper explores the time trends in nutritional status of children and adults across a set of high and low income countries that have nationally representative sets of weight, height, age, gender and related data.

• ONS Focus on Health Report – Ms Velda Osborne. June 2005

  Focus on Health is one of a series of reports to be published by ONS, both as a paper volume and on the NS web site. Data downloaded from the archive will be used to create tabulations etc not available in published survey reports.
  Other surveys used: GHS NICHS SHES NTS WHS EFS.

• Review of COPD in England – Dr Luis Nacul (North West London SHA – Public Health). June 2005

  As a SpR in public health I am working towards reviewing the existing information on the occurrence of COPD in the country as a means to develop a health needs assessment.

• Analysis of strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention – Dr Tom Marshall (University of Birmingham – Public Health and Epidemiology). June 2005

  To use the data to investigate the economics of cardiovascular disease prevention in primary care. Specifically I wish to investigate the effects of using different strategies for patient identification. I also wish to investigate the implications of blood pressure measurement error for prevention strategies.
  Other surveys used: SHES.

• Pharmacoepidemiological Research – Mr Andrew Maguire. May 2005

  To obtain population-based estimates of health parameters that will help describe the characteristics of patient populations, including co-morbidity. We are also interested in describing the cardiovascular risk profile for patient populations.

• Disability needs analysis – Mrs Sara Panizza. May 2005

  The aim of the study is to develop detailed information on the needs of disabled people in Newham.
  Other surveys used: LFS GHS.

• 1999 HSE – Dr Tim Crayford (Croydon PCT – Public Health). May 2005

  To write Croydon NHS PCT's annual public health report.

• Economic Value of Walking – Dr Geoff Riddington (Glasgow Caledonian University – Economics). May 2005

  To identify the numbers of walking trips and the value these have to the participants
  Other surveys used: Omnibus SHES NTS.

• Social and gender influences on tobacco use – Professor Martin Jarvis (University of University College London – Epidemiology and Public Health). April 2005

  Examination of patterns of smoking prevalence and cessation by age, measures of socio-economic position and sex, in order to test for differences by gender and by social influences. Estimation of sales-weighted average tar and nicotine yields using the GHS as the source for brand market share.
  Other surveys used: Omnibus GHS SHES BCS70 NCDS.

• Health Related Risk and Resilience Programme – Dr Frank Popham (University of Edinburgh – RUHBC). April 2005

  Various analysis on health and health-related behaviours as part of a programme of work on risk and resilience.
  Other surveys used: SHES BHPS.

• Statistical Methodology for Ecological Data – Dr Ruth Salway (University of Bath – Mathematical Sciences). April 2005

  I am developing methodology for use with ecological (aggregate) data that combines aggregate data (e.g. mortality counts and average incomes across areas) and small samples of individual data on covariates only (e.g. income on a sample of individuals in each area - there is no link between individual income and individual mortality). The data are to be used as an example, to illustrate the use of various methods that attempt to correct for ecological bias.
  Other surveys used: Vital Statistics.

• Regional Analysis of Public Health – Mr Tom Hennell (Department of Health – Public Health). April 2005

  Analysis of population characteristics and the prevalence of health risk factors; in support of Public Health policy and practice in the North West.

• Social Capital – Mr David Beaney (University of Northumbria at Newcastle – Built Environment). March 2005

  Connection between social capital and land use.

• Comparison between NI and GB – Mr Michael McKibbin. March 2005

  Use of the HSE for comparison results with the NI Health and Social wellbeing survey.

• Social inequality and the body – Dr Nick Crossley (University of Manchester – Sociology). March 2005

  A project which will examine class, gender and age differences in relationship to various health-related activities.
  Other surveys used: GHS TimeUse.

• Ethnic differences in patterns of employment and unemployment. – Professor Angela Dale (University of Manchester – CCSR). March 2005

  The extent of cohort changes in employment for ethnic women. Differences in employment participation by qualifications and presence of children. Relationship between qualifications, unemployment and underemployment for different ethnic groups.
  Other surveys used: LFS APS BHPS EFS FACS.

• Comparing local childhood obesity with national levels – Dr Miranda Mindlin (Richmond and Twickenham PCT – Public Health). March 2005

  I have local cross-sectional height weight data on 1500 children aged 6-7 and wish to compare their obesity levels with those of the HSE population.

• Urban/rural trends – Joanne Abbotts (University of Glasgow – Urban Studies). February 2005

  To examine trends in urban/rural health over the last 14 years for project on social cohesion.
  Other surveys used: BCS.

• New Opportunities for PE and Sport Evaluation – Mr Iain Lindsey (Loughborough University – Sport and Exercise Sciences). February 2005
• Investigate carbohydrate intake – Dr Gary Frost (University of Imperial College – Nutrition and Dietetic Research Group). January 2005

  To investigate the quality of carbohydrate against health outcome.

• Inequalities in Health Service Utilisation – Dr Alex Gibson (University of Exeter – Geography). December 2004

  The aim of the research is to examine use/need differences with respect to primary and secondary health services at GPO and PCO level. At the heart of this is a proper appreciation of the burden of ill-health in local populations and the Health Survey for England offers data upon which such may be estimated.
  Other surveys used: ELSA.

• Prevalence of overweight and obese children in Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust – Dr Ramandeep Arora (Wirral Hospitals NHS Trust – Paediatrics). November 2004

  Prevalence of overweight and obese children in ECPCT. Time trends of overweight and obese children in ECPCT. Identify any possible variables related to the problem. Gender SE status by school and by town.

• Evaluating the Impact of 'Valuing People' – Professor Eric Emerson (Lancaster University – Institute for Health Research). March 2004

  To develop a comprehensive set of performance indicators that can be used to evlaute the impact of current health and social care policies for people with learning disabilities.
  Other surveys used: LFS Omnibus TimeUse GHS FRS BCS BHPS NCDS FACS MCS BCS70.