The publication of the second National Health and Lifestyle Survey provides an important picture of lifestyle data categorised by gender, age and social class. Coming four years after the initial research it represents a second "snapshot" of national health behaviour.
Since the first survey in 1999, the Department of Health, and other health planners, have had access to dependable baseline information on a range of lifestyle-related health behaviours in the population. With these new data it is now possible to identify trends; the latest research also facilitates the refocusing of health promotion priorities.
Rates of self-reported good general health have risen by 6 per cent in men and 7 per cent in women. Stress reduction is still rated the top requirement for improving individual health. The greatest factor preventing people from improving their health is finance.
General practitioners remain the highest-ranked source of health information. A newly-recorded feature in the latest survey is the use of the Internet; 12 per cent of the population access the web for health information, a percentage which increases in higher socio-economic groups and with educational status.
The latest smoking statistics show a welcome reduction in tobacco usage. Twenty-eight per cent of men and 26 per cent of women in the Republic report being regular or occasional cigarette smokers, down from an overall 31 per cent four years ago. On closer analysis, it is apparent that a particular drop in smoking has occurred in the key 12-14 age group.
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, will take particular comfort from the findings on passive smoking. Facing increased resistance from publicans to his proposal to ban smoking in workplaces from January 1st next, the lifestyle survey finding that 47 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women are exposed to cigarette smoke in pubs and clubs will strengthen the case for legislative change.
Although 40 per cent of school-going children reported never having had an alcoholic drink, there was a significant rise in the consumption of spirits and alcopops by girls. The finding that the use of cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy has all increased, albeit by relatively small percentages, is also worrying.
The continuing climb in rates of obesity in both men and women constitutes a fresh challenge for health promotion. With a direct link to heart disease and certain cancers, and the growing diabetes epidemic, this trend must be the focus of renewed health promotion efforts across the State. The survey is a welcome addition to our knowledge of people's practices and their attitudes to key health behaviours.