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Healthy Ireland Survey, 2022

Study number (SN): 0021-07

CITATION 

ABOUT THE STUDY 

The annual Healthy Ireland Survey is a repeated cross-sectional annual study that provides an up-to-date picture of the nation’s health along with a robust and credible baseline set of data on a range of health behaviours which have significant impact on individual health outcomes. These data are being used by the Department of Health to inform current and future policy direction and programme development and implementation.

The Survey reports on many lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, active travel, weight management, diet and nutrition, health service utilization patterns, dental health, chronic disease incidence, mental health, sleep patterns, dementia awareness, caring responsibilities, women’s health and sexual health.  Some modules are repeated every year (e.g. smoking, demographics, chronic conditions), however, the majority of modules are being repeated on a 2-4 year cycle, allowing the Survey to ask a wider variety of questions. The Questionnaire for each year therefore varies substantially (but not completely) from the year before; researchers should be aware of that. 

Since 2014, the Healthy Ireland Survey has been administered on an annual basis by Ipsos on behalf of the Department of Health. 

The 2014-2019 Surveys were conducted via CAPI. The 2021 and 2022 Surveys were conducted by CATI. The Survey Reports are available online at the following link and contain additional detail with regard to content, results and methodology.

https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/706608-healthy-ireland-policies/#the-healthy-ireland-survey

MAIN TOPICS 

• Health
• Health status
• Men’s health
• Women’s health
• Public health
• Health promotion
• Public health risks

COVERAGE, UNIVERSE, METHODOLOGY 

Population 

Approximately 7,500 people aged 15 and over, contactable at randomly sampled mobile phone numbers and living in locations across Ireland, were surveyed annually by computer aided telephone interview (CATI), taking no more than 45 minutes. Location was ascertained via addresses and Eircodes (where known by the respondent).

In other words, a representative sample of the adult population of Ireland is surveyed each year. 

Observation units 

• Individuals
• Families/Households

Temporal coverage 

From 10/2021 to 04/2022

Time dimension  

Repeated cross-sectional study, repeated annually

Geographical coverage 

Country: Ireland

Administrative unit: Electoral district (2019), mobile phone access (2021)

Methods of data collection 

• CATI (Computer Aided Telephone Interviewing)

Sampling procedures 

Necessary public health restrictions introduced to prevent the spread of Covid-19 meant that conducting the Survey by personal interview was no longer feasible or safe.  The Healthy Ireland Survey questionnaire and interview methodology were adapted to safer telephone interviewing. 

Respondents were selected using a random digit dialling approach and were interviewed (as previously) by specially trained Healthy Ireland Survey interviewers. While the change in methodology ensured that robust survey data could be produced during the pandemic, it also meant that the data was collected in a different way to previous waves. 

This introduces the potential of what is known as mode effect (data not being fully comparable due to a change between two data collection approaches – in this case from in-person to over the telephone). For example, in previous survey waves the respondent may have been shown a list of potential responses on a showcard, however this is not possible over the telephone and potentially may impact on the answer given by the respondent. 

While it is important to note this caution, it is the considered opinion of the researchers that any impact is minimal, unless clearly stated within the report.  

Changes may have been made to some methodology between Waves; the most obvious change is the switch to CATI, however, there have been other changes, such as the version of deprivation index used for the CAPI surveys; however, methods specific to each Wave should be detailed in the Summary Reports.

Weighted analysis 

Whilst the sampling process is designed to deliver a representative sample of households and individuals throughout the country, differential response levels means that the survey sample is not a fully accurate representation of the population. As such, the aim of survey weighting is to bring the profile of respondents in line with the population profile.

Survey non-response can cause bias if the individuals who do not participate are systematically different to the individuals who take part. For example, it is often the case that young men are the most reluctant participants in social research, hence most weighting schemes include an adjustment for age and sex. By adjusting on known factors (i.e. characteristics for which population data are known, such as age, sex, etc.) potential biases in survey measurements can be reduced.

On this survey, the weighting scheme involves both selection weights and non-response adjustments. A selection weight overcomes any biases that may arise due to individuals from larger households being under-represented in the sample (these individuals had a lower chance of selection than those in smaller households). 

Non-response adjustments were made using known population statistics published by the Central Statistics Office. The variables used in this respect were: age by gender, education, work status of the respondent, and region.

Response rate 

The overall response rate for 2022 (CATI) was 51% 

Random direct dialling is used to sample mobile numbers in Ireland. Randomly generated mobile numbers were contacted by survey interviewers through IPSOS’s Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) unit in Dublin. In order to maximise participation rates, if a number was not answered multiple attempts were made (up to a maximum of 3) at different times of the day and on different days of the week.

Upon speaking to someone the person was initially screened to ensure that they were aged 15 or over and received a brief introduction to the Healthy Ireland Survey asking if they would be willing to participate. Numbers of people aged 15 or over in the household were ascertained. A second telephone conversation was then held with a selected household member. They were then informed that they would receive a follow-up call in the following days from a Healthy Ireland interviewer to conduct the interview.

Healthy Ireland interviewers used on this survey wave are the same interviewers used for in-person interviewing on previous survey waves. This ensured consistency with previous survey waves and ensured this wave benefitted from the extensive experience and training gained by this team from working on the survey for a long period.

When contacting a respondent, the interviewer firstly obtained informed consent from the individual (and also parental consent for those aged under 18). Once this was achieved the survey interview proceeded. 

Those requesting further information at any time are directed to the relevant information on the IPSOS website, or can have this information posted/emailed to them, ensuring that respondents have access to this information prior to interview. The additional information for any given year can be accessed by request (to IPSOS)

Respondents are also advised, prior to interview, that the survey deals with various issues relating to health behaviours in Ireland and is managed by the Department of Health. It is made clear that participation is voluntary and that answers will be confidential. It is also stated that the survey complies with all aspects of GDPR and further information, through the link above or via post if requested, is offered. 

Addresses and Eircodes are requested over the phone, if possible, in order to provide geographical context. Respondents can opt to refuse to give addresses or Eircodes (many don’t know their Eircodes); in such instances, county level information is sought. 

An overall response rate of 51% (percentage of known eligible telephone numbers that are contacted that fully complete a survey interview) was achieved. The survey participation rate (the percentage of individuals agreeing to take part in the survey who fully complete a survey) is 59%.

DATA AND DOCUMENTATION: FILES’ DESCRIPTION  

Data (available through ISSDA application process) 

Documentation (available for download) 

LINKS 

https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/706608-healthy-ireland-policies/#the-healthy-ireland-survey

ACCESS INFORMATION 

Accessing the data 

To access the data, please complete a ISSDA Data Request Form for Research Purposes, sign it, and send it to ISSDA by email.

Data will be disseminated on receipt of a fully completed, signed form. Incomplete or unsigned forms will be returned to the data requester for completion.

Please note that any reference to signature and date in this document can be read as meaning the typed name and date where such an application is forwarded electronically.

Copyright 

Copyright belongs to the Department of Health, Government of Ireland. Ipsos MRBI are contracted to undertake the Healthy Ireland Survey on behalf of the Department and are responsible for primary management, processing and storage of the data.

Acknowledgements

Any work based in whole or part on resources provided by the ISSDA, should  acknowledge: “Healthy Ireland Survey, 2022" and also ISSDA, in the following way: “Accessed via the Irish Social Science Data Archive - www.ucd.ie/issda”.

Citation requirement 

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical citation 

Department of Health (2024). Healthy Ireland Survey, 2022 [dataset]. Version 1. Irish Social Science Data Archive. SN: 0021-07. https://www.ucd.ie/issda/data/healthyireland/healthyireland2022/

Notification 

The user shall notify the Irish Social Science Data Archive of all publications where she or he has used the data.