Scottish Health Survey 2013 - volume 1: main report

Foreword from the Chief Medical Officer

This report presents the findings of the ninth Scottish Health Survey and is the sixth report published since the survey moved to a continuous design in 2008. The 2012-2015 surveys have been commissioned by the Scottish Government and produced by a collaboration between ScotCen Social Research, the MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow, The Centre for Population Health Sciences at the University of Edinburgh and The Public Health Nutrition Research Group at Aberdeen University.

The survey provides us with an immensely valuable collection of data on cardiovascular disease and the related risk factors, including smoking, alcohol, diet, physical activity and obesity. Information on general health, mental health and dental health are also included.

With the publication of the 2013 survey, we now have data spanning 19 years since the survey was first commissioned in 1995. With each additional survey year, the ability to analyse trends adds considerably to the usefulness of this data source.

The survey design was changed from 2012, with the removal of the nurse visit and the introduction of an interviewer-led biological module covering many of the measurements and samples previously collected via the nurse visit. Results for the interviewer-led biological module are included in the report for the first time this year.

Combining data from the 2012 and 2013 surveys allows for some more detailed analysis to be included in the report this year, including for specific health conditions, risk factors and related health behaviours. This also allows more in-depth results for population sub-groups to be included in the report.

I am pleased to welcome this valuable report and to thank the consortium led by ScotCen Social Research for their hard work in conducting the survey and preparing this report. Most importantly, I would also like to thank the 6,733 people who gave their time to participate in the survey. The information they have provided is invaluable in developing and monitoring public health policy in Scotland.

Dr Aileen Keel CBE
Acting Chief Medical Officer for Scotland
Scottish Government Health Directorates