Tekijät

• Paronen, Olavi (UKK Institute)
• Fogelholm, Mikael (UKK Institute)

Asiasanat

activities of daily living, health, health services, ill health, neighbourhoods, personal safety, physical activities, physical mobility, social services

Sisällön kuvaus

The survey charted the general health, functional ability and exercise habits of the adult population living in Tampere (Finland). Need for help, use of social and health services, living environment, and sense of security and safety were also examined. Previous surveys were carried out in 1990, 1993, 1996 and 1999.

Perceived health, and long-term illnesses, disabilities or injuries that might limit respondents' daily activities or work were probed. Respondents were also asked about illnesses, symptoms and risk factors (e.g. high level of cholesterol or overweight) which have been diagnosed by a doctor, and about their mental health symptoms and problems, for example, insomnia or forgetfulness. One question explored respondents' functional ability by asking about their capability to perform different daily tasks, such as house cleaning, rug beating and climbing stairs without resting. Respondents assessed their own physical condition by comparing it to that of their peers. In connection with exercise habits, they were asked how much they take exercise in their free time and on their daily journeys to and from work. They were asked whether they have discussed the necessity of taking exercise with a doctor or a public health nurse and whether they have been recommended to exercise more. The survey also charted respondents' weight and height.

Respondents were asked whether they had needed outside help with daily tasks, for example, domestic work or running errands, in the past year and where they had received that help. They were also asked to indicate whether there is an elderly, disabled or permanently ill person in their immediate circle who they take care of on a regular basis. The use of health services was studied by asking respondents about stays in hospital or visits to a doctor, and their satisfaction with these services.

Use of and satisfaction with social services (e.g. day care and income support) were charted in the same way. Respondents were presented with some attitudinal statements about social and health services, and about the adequacy of social security connected with different population groups. Feelings of security and safety were charted with questions about the sense of anxiety or insecurity caused by problems with paying the bills or fear of violence, and respondents evaluated the security and safety of living at the time of the survey and during the following five years. Finally, respondents assessed their own living environment in terms of cleanliness, facilities for physical activities, and road safety. They were also asked about general safety, for example, whether they were afraid to walk outside alone in the evening and whether they had experienced threats of violence in their neighbourhood in the past year.

Background variables included respondent's gender, age, part of the town and length of residence in the area, household composition, number of children aged under 7 and between 7 and 17, type of accommodation, marital status, basic and vocational education, main activity, length of unemployment, type of contract and strenuousness of work. The dataset also contains information on which service unit within the Department of Social Services and Health Care in Tampere the respondent belongs to.