Authors

• Paronen, Olavi (UKK Institute)

Keywords

exercise (physical activity), food and nutrition, health, health services, need for help, neighbourhoods, personal safety, physical mobility, social services

Abstract

The survey charted the general health, functional ability, and need for help of people living in the city of Tampere (Finland). Other main themes included exercise and eating habits, use of and satisfaction with social and health services, perceptions of the neighbourhood, and sense of safety and security. Previous surveys were carried out in 1990, 1993 and 1996.

The respondents were asked about their general health, whether they had a disability, injury or long-standing illness, whether that disability/injury/illness limited their daily activities or work, and whether they had suffered lately from mental problems or symptoms such as insomnia, sense of loneliness, sense of distress.

The survey also investigated the weight, height, alcohol consumption, smoking and exercise habits of the respondents. What type of milk and spreading fats they used was also charted. One question explored whether the respondents had made any changes in their habits such as increasing the amount of exercise, reducing alcohol use, stopping smoking, losing weight etc. The respondents were asked from whom they had received help and whether they themselves regularly helped someone else.

Use of health services was charted by asking about hospitalization spells and visits to a doctor or a dentist. Opinions on and satisfaction with the health and social services in Tampere were surveyed with a number of questions. Use of social services was charted by asking about the use of different services. The survey also covered opinions on which bodies should provide social and health services and whether the level of social security was adequate.

Perceptions of safety and security were charted by asking about how safe the respondents felt cycling or walking in their neighbourhood, whether they had experienced violence or threats of violence in their neighbourhood, and what kinds of other problems there were (e.g. noise, pollution). The respondents were asked to what extent certain factors (e.g. immigrants, drugs, violence, loneliness) caused them feelings of insecurity or uncertainty. They were also asked to evaluate different aspects of their neighbourhood.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, number of children living at home, education, economic activity and occupational status, duration of possible unemployment, and the service unit area where R lived.