Background to the Research

• The provision of good quality information is seen as key to the successful and satisfying involvement of patients in their own decision making, the creation of more responsible users of health-care resources and an important factor in achieving the involvement of citizens in health-care decisions.
• In 2001, the BUPA Foundation funded a module of questions in the NILT survey covering a range of health issues. This chapter reports the findings from this module and includes issues such as where respondents had sought/would seek information; knowledge of health-care structures and the organisation of health care, including knowledge of complaints procedures and consumer bodies, and public trust in health professionals.
  

Research Approach

• The data used by the authors come from the 2001 NILT survey.
• The NILT survey began in 1998 and is carried out annually. Interviews are conducted with a random selection of adults (aged 18 years and over) who live in private households in NI.
• The sample size for the 2001 NILT survey was 1,800 respondents - although some modules were asked of only half the sample.
• The sample size for the module on health was 900 respondents.
  

Main Findings

• Almost one third (31%) of respondents have spent time in the previous twelve months seeking out health-related information.
• Older respondents and those with a long-term disability (or caring for someone with a long-term disability) are more likely to have done so.
• Of those who said they had looked for health information, doctors and health professionals are by far the most popular source, with 87% of respondents approaching them; only 18% used the Internet.
• Just over one third (36%) of respondents would seek more information if their GP told them they might have a serious illness; these respondents are more likely to be young, well educated, in non-manual occupations, and female.
• The Internet is the most popular source of health-related information for people seeking a 'second opinion' or confirmation of something their doctor has told them.
• 41% of respondents say they would have most confidence in a health professional if they were to make a statement about BSE - mad cow disease: they would have least confidence in journalists working for newspapers and in government officials.
• However, 58% of respondents agree with the statement that 'there have been so many medical scandals that people just can't trust doctors as much as they used to'.
• Nevertheless, 71% agree that the media plays up health scares just to get a good story. In addition, 89% agree that doctors should be respected for the difficult job they do.
• Just over one half of respondents (53%) have heard of the Patients' Charter while only 23% know about their local Health and Social Services Councils, the watchdog bodies in NI for health and personal social services.
• 30% of respondents do not know who they should contact if they wanted to make a serious complaint about their GP.
• 76% of respondents believe it is essential that if big changes to the health service were to be made in their local area, people living there should have a say.
• However, 78% feel the views of local people are not taken into account when deciding to close hospitals.