joint strategic needs assessment foundation profile - JSNA

Interative Hull Atlas: www.hullpublichealth.org/Pages/hull_atlas.htm More information: www.jsnaonline.org and www.hullpublichealth.org
Veterans were asked if they had sought help or advice from a professional within
the last year (or more than a year ago) with regard to the various health and
lifestyle issues above. Within the last year, 61% had sought help or advice for
physical health problems, 36% for depression or anxiety, 33% for PTSD, 23% for
problems controlling violence, 13% for employment problems, 23% for problems
with family relationships and few had sought help or advice for lifestyle issues.
53 completed questionnaires for post-1970 Veterans with wide age range (23 to
88) with mean age of 54 years, serving between 1-38 years (mean 16 years).
Compared to similarly-aged local Health and Lifestyle Survey responders, there
was much poorer physical and mental health for Veterans, but similar prevalence
for 5-A-DAY and alcohol although 17% of Veterans stated that a relative or friend,
or a doctor or other health professional has been concerned about their drinking
or suggested they cut down. Fewer Veterans smoked and a higher percentage of
Veterans exercised to national guidelines compared to the Health and Lifestyle
Survey responders.
The final report is available at www.hullpublichealth.org which includes findings and
learning points from the in-depth interviews.
13.2.2 Qualitative and Social Marketing Research
13.2.2.1 Attitudes to Health Focus Groups 2007
Twelve focus groups were held in Hull during 2007 to ask about opinions and attitudes
to health which included a theme on diet and nutrition. Eleven groups were held with
residents of Hull aged 40-60 years (8 mixed sex, 1 all female group, 1 all male group
and one Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) group). A reflector group was also held
involving community volunteers. Various other interviews, follow-up and discussion
groups were also held.
Focus group participants were able to identify a range of preventable diseases and
conditions that they believed were attributable to lifestyle and behaviours which were
consistent with those identified by community professionals. The main factors identified
by the groups which affected health were: smoking; alcohol; stress; poor environment;
employment; unemployment; lack of money; poor diet; lack of exercise; lack of
knowledge; lack of support and illegal drug use. The main personal situations and
behaviours believed to constitute a risk to health included: where individuals lived and
worked; alcohol intake and excessive drinking; smoking and inhaling the smoke of
others; eating a poor diet and over-eating; failing to take exercise; long-working hours;
taking illegal drugs and social isolation. In terms of attitudes to diet and poor nutrition,
though participants in all groups identified good nutrition as an important factor in
remaining healthy and fit in middle age, discussion revealed a huge variance in attitude
and behaviour. There was a broad recognition of healthy and unhealthy food groups
and an anxiety that related to an increasing lack of knowledge about food purchase and
basic cookery skills, which have been lost because of the availability of processed
foods, change in family lifestyle and lack of education in school. Blame for the post-war
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