ESDS Government

Usage of the Scottish Health Survey

This page contains information from users who have downloaded the SHeS 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.

• HSE mortality – Miss Alison Moody (UCL – Epidemiology and Public Health). December 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: HSE.

• 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: HSE.

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

• Older People's health and social care needs - Scotland – Dr Oliver Harding. July 2012

  To describe attributes of the Scottish population aged 65 years and over now, in the past and in the future in order to infer the population needs for health and social care over the next 20 years or so.
  Other surveys used: SCOTTISH HOUSEHOLD SURVEY; 2007-2008.

• Planning Performance – Mr Rae Taylor. June 2012

  To support Health Service planning and performance against the population health objectives of NHS Tayside by comparing service activity and service outputs against related intermediate outcomes and population health outcomes.

• Undiagnosed diabetes – Dr Iain Atherton (University of Stirling – Department of Nursing and Midwifery). June 2012

  This analysis explores social factors associated with undiagnosed diabetes. Diabetes is a major public health issue which is leads to a number of major morbidities. Early diagnosis is important to address the condition early and avoid many of these associated complications. Identifying groups within the population who have undiagnosed diabetes is thus an important public health imperative.

• Analysis of overweight and obesity in children and adults – Mrs Rachel Jackson Leach. June 2012

  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: HSE.

• 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 HSE.

• Alcohol consumption among people who are obese – Dr Cindy Gray (University of Glasgow – Institute of Health and Wellbeing). March 2012

  We would like to consult the most recent version of the Scottish Health Survey to get information about alcohol consumption among Scottish men and women who are obese. The data will be used to respond to a reviewer's comment on the trial protocol paper that we have submitted to the Lancet.

• Physical Activity of People with Mental Health Conditions – Dr Janet Finlayson (Glasgow Caledonian University – School of Health and Life Sciences). February 2012

  My student will be accessing the dataset to conduct secondary analyses, investigating the levels and patterns of physical activity of adults with mental health conditions.

• Place based inequality and group based inequality – Ms Kirsten Besemer (Heriot-Watt University – School of the Built Environment). February 2012

  The purpose is to do some background research for a short piece of work on socio-economic, place and equality group approaches to inequality.
  Other surveys used: LFS SSA.

• Health and well-being of gay and bisexual men in Scotland – Dr Adam Bourne (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine – Social and Environmental Health Research). February 2012

  In collaboration with the gay rights charity, Stonewall, we have conducted a survey of the health and well-being of gay and bisexual men living in Scotland. We would like to compare some of the responses of our survey with the Scottish Health Survey.

• Creating an Interdisciplinary Developmental Approach to Health – Dr Gabriella Conti. January 2012

  We aim to produce an interdisciplinary developmental approach to health that studies the origins and the evolution of health inequalities and the role played by cognition; personality, genes, and environments. Major experimental and non-experimental international datasets will be analyzed. A practical guide to implementing related policy will be produced. We will build a science of human development that draws on, extends, and unites research on the biology and epidemiology of health disparities with medical economics and the economics of skill formation. The goal is to produce an integrated framework to jointly model the economic, social and biological mechanisms that produce the evolution and the intergenerational transmission of health and of the capabilities that foster health.
  Other surveys used: UKHLS NCDS BCS.

• Spatial structure of health and healthcare in Scotland – Dr Arnab Bhattacharjee (University of Dundee – Economic Studies). November 2011

  Investigate how health outcomes are achieved at the Health Board level in Scotland, through investments in health behaviour and healthcare, and therefore how the spatial structure of health is endogenously produced.

• MH profile of Greater Glasgow and Clyde – Mr Martin Taulbut. August 2011

  The project aims to describe the mental health and wellbeing of the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde region using a variety of data sources from national surveys to administrative data.

• SHeS 2008/2009 - Fife – Mr Bryan Archibald. July 2011

  To use the Scottish Health Survey combined 2008/2009 dataset to produce Fife level estimates for local reporting. Data will be used in documents such as Public Health Annual Report and shared with partnership organisations for long term Community Plan Health and Wellbeing indicators.

• Employment – Dr Jesus Canduela (Edinburgh Napier University – ERI). July 2011

  Investigating the factors affecting the transition from unemployment into employment.
  Other surveys used: SCS LFS NILTS NICHS IHS.

• 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 HSE WHS BSA FRS EHS NORTHERN IRELAND HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELLBEING SURVEY; 2005-2006 SILC LIW.

• 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 HSE SSA LFS BHPS.

• Social networks and occupational structure – Dr Paul Lambert (University of Stirling – Applied Social Science). June 2011

  Seeking to apply and compare social network analysis, and social interaction distance analysis, to survey data on social connections between occupations. By exploring the empirical patterns of social connections between occupations we anticipate obtaining useful information about the nature of the social stratification structure and the relationship between social stratification and other social structures.
  Other surveys used: Omnibus BHPS LFS.

• Residualisation of Social Housing in GB – Dr David Manley (University of St Andrews – Geography and Geosciences;). April 2011

  The SEH (along with the Scottish equivalent data) is required to perform an analysis of residualisation in Social Housing in Great Britain. Using a combination of tenure, income and job profiles we wish to analuse the changing composition of the social renting; private renting and owner occupation sectors since 1993.
  Other surveys used: SEH.

• Child and parental obesity – Mr Philip McLoone (University of Glasgow – Public Health). March 2011

  The purpose is to explore the prevalence in Scotland of children with obesity within in households with parents who are obese and overweight. The study will examine the relationship between child BMI and parental BMI; for boys and girls and mothers and fathers separately.

• Monitoring inequalities in FEV – Professor Alastair Leyland (Medical Research Council (MRC) – Social and Public Health Sciences Unit). December 2010

  We are looking to see to what extent there are inequalities in FEV; particularly in childhood or adolescence. This involves using data from the 1995; 1998; 2003 and 2008 SHeS.

• 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 HSE FRS NCDS WHS LOS Omnibus.

• global burden of respiratory disease – Ms Ramyani Gupta (Imperial College London – Population Genetics and Gene Therapy). May 2010

  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: HSE.

• Comparing the health of the employed and workless population in Scotland – Dr Judith Brown (University of Glasgow – Public Health & Health Policy). April 2010

  We plan to use the Scottish Health Surveys to compare the health (clinical; physical & behavourial) of the employed; unemployed and economically inactive.

• Service use amongst those for whom English is not their first language – Mr Martin Hyde (Sheffield Hallam University – Psychology; sociology and politics). April 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: HSE LIW WHS ELSA.

• Modelling sporting activity in Scotland – Dr Barbara Eberth (University of Aberdeen – Health Economics Research Unit). March 2010

  Use Scottish Health Survey 2008 to model sporting activity in Scotland within the Scottish Governments recommended physical activity guidelines to compare population changes in sporting activity with the 1998 and 2003 Scottish Health Surveys. In addition the model will be used to compare the effect of interventions designed to increase the vigour with which individuals undertake their physical activity; relating it to obesity as a health outcome.

• ScotPHO- Scottish Health Survey – Mr Ian Grant. March 2010

  Lifetsyle information in survey used to estimate co-morbidities as part of ongoing exercise to estimate; smoking; alcohol and obesity attributable morbidity and mortality as part of the Scottish Health Observatorys work programme

• Walking; Cycling and Socio economic status in Scotland – Dr Paulus Teguh Aditjandra (University of Aberdeen – Geography and Environment). March 2010

  I and my colleague at Centre for Transport Research (CTR) University of Aberdeen and Centre for Transport and Society(CTS) University of West England may use this data to identify and to analyse walking; cycling and socio-economic status in Scotland. This project is a response to NHS Scotland call on looking at walking and cycling (travel) activity pattern towards healthier and greener Scotland.
  Other surveys used: SSA.

• Ongoing research into the demographic; socio-demographic and personal correlates of tobacco smoking – Professor Martin Jarvis (UCL – epidemiology & public health). March 2010

  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: HSE Omnibus GHS IHS ELSA.

• Mental Health Profile for Greater Glasgow and Clyde – Dr Deborah Shipton. March 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 HSE GHS LFS SCS.

• Comparator usage for WAVES Survey – Dr Aileen Clarke (University of Warwick – HSRI/WMS). March 2010

  Comparator usage for WAVES Survey I wish to compare GHQ scores in the Scottish Health Survey with those I have recently collected in England and Scotland amonsgt teenagers. Extract from introduction: Assessing mental wellbeing (positive mental health) in addition to mental health problems is vital in developing indicators of overall mental health. Previously to assist in the assessment of mental wellbeing; NHS Health Scotland commissioned work which led to the development and validation of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) for adults (aged 16+). WEMWBS was found to be user-friendly and psychometrically sound as a measure of mental wellbeing in adults in the UK. We undertook this study to find out whether the scale could also be used to measure mental wellbeing for children of secondary school age. Our aim was to establish the validity; reliability and acceptability of the WEMWBS in teenage school students in two secondary school year groups; aged 13-14 and 15-16 years; in two cities; one in Scotland and one in England.

• 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: HSE NICHS APS BSA EFS Omnibus FRS LSYPE.

• Cardiovascular risk factor secular trends - social patterning – Dr Joel Hotchkiss (Medical Research Council (MRC) – Measuring Health). January 2010

  The aim is to investigate trends in the changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors (e.g.smoking; blood pressure etc) over time using the Scottish Health Surveys (1995; 1998; 2003 and when available 2008) with particular reference to socioeconomic patterning. Funding is by the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit and the Chief Scientist Offuce (Scottish Executive). Grant number U.1300.00.001.

• Reference data for study of cystic fibrosis – Professor Gillian Raab (University of St Andrews – Geography). December 2009

  To act as reference standards for height, weight and fev1 for a study of these in cystic fibrosis. The cystic fibrosis data are taken from a national UK register covering England, Wales, Scotland and NI.
  Other surveys used: WHS.

• Dundee CHP Health & Wellbeing Profile – Mr David McLaren. November 2009

  These data will be included in a Health and Wellbeing Profile document. The purpose of the document is to provide a picture of the health and wellbeing of the Dundee City Community Health Partnership health and to inform service planing and initiatives.

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

  A review of existing estimates of the number of deafblind people in the UK by the Investigator for the Sponsor (SENSE).
  Other surveys used: FRS HSE GHS NTS ELSA BHPS APS HBAI WHS LFS NICHS LIW MCS.

• Exploring walking and cycling behaviour in Scotland – Dr Yusak Susilo (University of the West of England – Architecture and Planning). October 2009

  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 BSA APS SSA HSE SEH NTS Omnibus.

• Scottish Alcohol Model – Professor Petra Meier (University of Sheffield – ScHARR). July 2009

  We are modelling of the effect of alcohol policies on health; crime and employment outcomes in England and Scotland. For this we need detailed alcohol consumption data by age and gender; as well as datasets for harm estimation. Funding has been received from DH; Scottish Government; NICE and MRC.
  Other surveys used: Omnibus GHS ELSA FACS LSYPE BCS.

• SIGN guidleines – Ms Joyce Craig (NHS Quality Improvement Scotland – Economics). April 2009

  NHS QIS is providing a clinical, resource and costing report to accompany a new SIGN guideline on obesity. SHS 2003 data will form the baseline data particularly on obesity levels to inform the demand for services and potential clinical benefits from implemenating key recommendations.

• The Health of the Irish in the UK – Mr Mark McGovern (University College Dublin – Economics). March 2009

  Data will be used to evaluate the health of Irish migrants to the UK, and tie their current circumstances back to their early life conditions. This project is being conducted as part of the Irish Abroad Study in the Geary Institute, UCD, Ireland.
  Other surveys used: LFS BHPS GHS.

• Scottish Health Survey link to educational data – Dr Allan Hewitt (University of Strathclyde – Sport, Culture and the Arts). February 2009

  The data will be linked to datasets containing information about educational outcomes at secondary school level in Scotland. The purpose is to explore the impact of health factors on children's performance in school examinations.

• 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: HSE.

• Profile of Forest Population – Mr Stephen Hughes. December 2008

  Create a health profile of the 3/4 Million people living within the Central Scotland Forest area and compare these data to the national average. Output will be in the format of an internal report and some data may be presented at conferences.
  Other surveys used: IHS.

• Research – Mr Nicholas Pleace (University of York – Centre for Housing Policy). November 2008

  Comparative analysis of general health of Scottish population with ex-hostel users in Glasgow. The analysis is simply to provide contextual information.
  Other surveys used: BHPS.

• Scottish Living Wage – Dr Jesus Canduela (Napier University – ERI). September 2008

  Research to calculate the Scottish Living Wage. The data would be used to calculate the household expenditure for a scottish household.
  Other surveys used: EFS FRS APS.

• Health and happiness – Professor david blanchflower (University of Stirling – Economics). July 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: HSE BSA WHS NCDS BCS70.

• Research – Mr Alex Dregan (University of Surrey – Sociology). April 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 HSE Omnibus BSA.

• 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 HSE NICHS WHS.

• Health Status Craigmillar – Dr John Palmer. December 2007

  To analyse health status in the deprived area of Craigmillar in comparison to the results for the Health Board as a whole.

• Sports participation monitoring – Mr Steve Dowers (University of Edinburgh – School of GeoSciences). November 2007

  Research into variation in sports participation by demographic and geographic sectors. Comparing patterns in Scottish Omnibus Survey and Active People with Health Surveys.

• BP Coverage – David Sapienza. October 2007

  The data will be used to calculate hypertension rates and the proportion of those with hypertension on medication. Calculations will be done by sex for each year the survey was conducted. Data will also be used to calculate absolute risk of CVD in Scotland.

• 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: HSE WHS 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 HSE.

• Step-parenting 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 HSE APS BHPS LSYPE NCDS.

• Dietary-Obesity Relationship – Dr Damilola Olajide (University of Aberdeen – Health Economics Research Unit). April 2007

  The study aims to identify a dietary pattern in adults in England, using the dataset. 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: BHPS HSE NFS BCS70.

• Analysis of survey at Health Board Level – Dr Diane Stockton (CSA Central Legal Office – ISD). March 2007

  Looking at risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity at health board level in Scotland in specific age ranges not included in the published Scottish Health Survey report.

• Self-Reported Wellbeing in Scotland – Prof David Bell (University of Stirling – Economics). December 2006

  This project looks at self-reported well-being in Scotland. It looks at the main determinants of variation in self-reported well-being and then considers how these have varied both through time and in relation to the Rest of the UK and the Rest of Europe.
  Other surveys used: FRS LFS.

• 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 HSE.

• Estimating Smoking Cessation Relapse Rates for Policy Evaluation – Dr Damilola Olajide (University of Aberdeen – Health Economics Research Unit). October 2006

  The study aims to explore the dataset to investigate the socioeconomic determinants of smoking cessation pathways and trajectories. The major research questions to answer are whether long term smoking relapse rate can be estimated more accurately and whether it can be systematically linked to population characteristics.
  Other surveys used: BHPS.

• SocioEconomic profile of our area – Mr Stephen Hughes. October 2006

  We wish to build up a socio/ec profile of the residents within the Charity's catchment area. The data will be used primarilly for in house monitoring and evaluation of our socio/environmental projects.
  Other surveys used: BHPS.

• Exploration of the association between lung function and anthropometric variables – Dr David Chinn (University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne – Population Health Sciences). October 2006

  The data are required for a secondary analysis exploring the association between lung function (children and adults) and anthropometric variables. The work will be of relevance in determining suitable predictor variables to improve reference values.

• Injuries, Accidents and Falls in Adults with Learning Disabilities – Miss Janet Finlayson (University of Glasgow – Division of Community Based Sciences). September 2006

  To compare the incidence of injuries and falls experienced by adults with learning disabilities with those experienced by the general popuation, for an academic research study.

• Scottish Health Survey 2003 further analysis of dietary module – Mrs Julie Armstrong (Glasgow Caledonian University – School of Life Sciences). September 2006

  Further analysis of eating patterns module in Scottish Health Survey 2003. The database will be used for teaching purposes to illustrate the use of dietary data to test associations with other health behaviours and health outcomes.

• Modelling variation in chronic diseases – Dr Wayne Harrison (University of Birmingham – Public Health and 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: HSE.

• Epidemiology of respiratory and allergic disorders in the UK – Ms Ramyani Gupta (University of St George's Hospital Medical School – Community Health Sciences). July 2006

  We collate data on respiratory and allergic conditions in the whole of the UK and use this data to investigate their epidemiology.

• Health Burden of Allergic Disease in Scotland – Dr Chantelle Anandan (University of Edinburgh – CHS general practice section). July 2006

  Project using routine data sources to look at Health Burden of Allergic Disease in Scotland. We would like to use the section on respiratory health from the 1995, 1998 and 2003 Scottish Health Surveys.

• Analysis of strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention – Dr Tom Marshall (University of Birmingham – Public Health and Epidemiology). July 2006

  I indend 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: HSE.

• Scottish Survey Statistics – Dr Michael Rosie (University of Edinburgh – Sociology). March 2006

  Survey statistics on Scottish society
  Other surveys used: NILTS BSA LFS GHS Omnibus SEH.

• Social and gender influences on tobacco use – Prof Martin Jarvis (University of University College London – Epidemiology and Public Health). February 2006

  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 HSE GHS BCS70 NCDS.

• Educational research – Mr Christopher Littlejohn (NHS Tayside – Tayside Substance Misuse Services). February 2006

  To inform training for NHS staff in Scotland, written by and provided by NHS Tayside Substance Misuse Services/Alcohol Liaison Service.

• 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). October 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.8 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 The project links to work proposed for the medium and longer-term programme (see examples in sections F&G). 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). Coverage of the three themes: Health inequalities, and risk & health. It focuses on our research theme of tackling obesity. Study design: The project will involve secondary analysis of a number of datasets to which we have secured access (see table). These have been selected to enable cross-sectional, longitudinal and inter-generational analyses. The 1958 and 2000 (Millennium) birth cohorts will allow us to explore the emergence of obesity, PA and diet from birth, through the childhood years, to adulthood. The 1958 birth cohort also includes approximately 4,000 offspring, thus allowing study of intergenerational effects in the generation and transmission of obesity within families. In addition to these cohorts, repeated cross-sectional surveys will provide data on BMI, diet and PA in children, young people and adults at different time points over the last 10-15 years.
  Other surveys used: HSE.

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

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

• Research on Scottish Datasets – Ms Lee Williamson (University of Manchester – CCSR). June 2005

  Working to create a guide to datasets for Scotland, where access to all the large-scale government surveys will be necessary.
  Other surveys used: LFS SSA SCS.

• 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 HSE NTS.

• ONS Focus on Health Report – Ms Velda Osborne. February 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 HSE NICHS NTS WHS EFS.