The value of HSE data for policy
Paul Stonebrook Head of Physical Activity Policy
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I am going to concentrate on the
following areas:
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History of Physical Activity in HSE
Context and how HSE adds value
Policy questions that HSE can answer
Accommodating new guidelines
How policy fits into the new public health system
DH policy priorities
Ambitions for future data collection
Physical activity has been measured
through HSE since 1991
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Year
Title
2004
Health of Minority Ethnic Groups
2005
Health of Older People
(2007)
(Attitudes and knowledge)
2008
Physical Activity and Fitness
2012
Health, Social Care and Lifestyles
HSE provides a unique resource:
• A public health survey (measures PA in the context of
other behaviours and conditions)
• Measures all forms of physical activity (including
occupational)
• Face to face questionnaire
• Validated
• Perceived as the ‘Gold Standard’
But:
• Does not provide a sufficient sample size to measure
physical activity at a local level
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We have established a PHOF indicator
for physical activity:
Domain 2: Health Improvement
Outcome Indicator:
• 2.13i Proportion of adults achieving at least 150
minutes of physical activity per week in accordance with
UK CMO recommended guidelines on physical activity
• 2.13ii Proportion of adults classified as ‘inactive’
Data Source: Sport England’s Active People Survey
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We look to HSE to help answer a range
of questions to support policy:
• What is the current trend in physical activity levels for
adults and children?
• What is contributing to any change?
• The relative popularity of different activities?
• Patterns of activity and inactivity across demographic
groups and the life-course?
• Regional variations?
• What is the state of the nation’s health?
• How should government intervene? For whom and
what sort of activity should we be promoting?
• What are the associations with obesity, etc.?
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What would be the impact of switching
to the new UK CMOs’ PA guidelines?
• What proportion of adults met the new 150min guideline
in 2012?
• What proportion of adults participated in musclestrengthening activities?
• What proportion of older adults participated in exercise
to improve balance / co-ordination?
• What proportion of children aged 2-4 meet the new
guidelines for under 5s of at least three hours of
physical activity per day?
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We found close agreement between
HSE, APS and US data for 150min in
adults:
Survey
Prevalence
HSE
67% of men and 55% of women
Active People Survey
61% of men and 51% of women
US data*
64.5%
(HSE data showed similar proportions of men and women
meeting the recommendations in 2008 and 2012)
*State Indicator Report on Physical Activity, 2010
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From April 2013 Public Health England
assumed responsibility for local delivery
of physical activity
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Department of Health
Public Health England
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Policy
Stewardship
Moving More, Living More
Responsibility Deal
Grants to Walking Cities
Briefing Ministers
Delivery
Evidence base
Surveys (but not HSE)
PA Implementation
Framework
We are starting to identify future priorities
for data collection
• Coherent approach to physical data collection and
reporting
• Annual reporting at national and local levels
• More use of objective measures
• Greater use of fitness testing
• Local measure of physical activity in children and young
people
• Standardised measurement of physical activity across
the UK, with a view to WHO investigation of a global
measure
(See report of All Party Commission on Physical Activity)
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