Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Welsh Health Survey (WHS) collects information about the health of people living in Wales, the way they use health services, and the factors that can affect their health. The current WHS series was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG), and carried out in both 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 by a consortium comprising the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), Beaufort Research Limited, and the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London. In 2005-2006, NatCen had sole responsibility for conducting the survey and this has continued with the 2007 and 2008 surveys. The new WHS replaces two previous study series: the previous WHS, conducted in 1995 and 1998 (the 1998 WHS is held at the UK Data Archive under SN 4176), and the Health in Wales Survey which was conducted five times in 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1996 (none are currently held at the UKDA). Users should note that results from the new WHS survey are not comparable with those from the previous surveys, because of differences in the questionnaires and survey methodology. The new WHS is designed to:provide estimates of health status, health determinants and health service usecontribute to setting and monitoring targets and indicators in the health strategies and National Service Frameworksexamine differences between population subgroups (such as sex, age, social class) and local areasprovide a direct measurement of need for health care for National Health Service resource allocation in Walesprovide local health board- and local authority-level information for the development of joint local health, social care and well-being strategiesThe WHS is based on a representative sample of adults aged 16 and over living in private households in Wales. In addition, up to two children aged 0 to 15 were randomly selected from each household. The 2007 survey marked the introduction of more extensive...