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.

• 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.

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

  I am planning to use some multivariate stastistical analysis to explore the relationships between individual socio-demographic, built environment factors and cycling and walking behaviour in Scotland.
  Other surveys used: LFS BSA APS SSA.

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

  We are modelling the effect of alcohol policies on health, crime and employment outcomes in Scotland for the Scottish Government. For this we need detailed Scotland specific alcohol consumption data by age and gender.
  Other surveys used: Omnibus GHS ELSA FACS LSYPE and qualitative data.

• 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.

• 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.