Who Knew? Familiarity with Durham Region Health Department Programs and Services

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1 September 2010 Who Knew? Familiarity with Durham Region Health Department Programs and Services The primary focus of public health is the health and well-being of the population through the promotion and protection of health, and the prevention of illness. Public health programs and services are an essential part of the health system in Ontario; a system that helps people stay healthy, delivers good care when people get sick and will be there for people s children and grandchildren. 1 A Public Health Unit (PHU) is an official health agency established by a group of urban and rural municipalities to provide a more efficient community health program. 2 Durham Region Health Department (DRHD) is one of 36 PHUs in Ontario. DRHD has a vision of leading the way to a healthier Durham and accomplishes this by excelling at providing a diversity of health-enhancing services that address growing and changing needs in the Region. In line with this vision and mission, DRHD offers a wide range of public health programs and services encompassing Chronic Diseases and Injuries, Family Health, Infectious Diseases, Environmental Health and Emergency Preparedness. DRHD also provides Emergency Medical Services, and Infant and Child Development Services. The Initial Report on Public Health cited local community members familiarity with PHUs programs and services as one possible indicator of community engagement and awareness of public health. 3 From May to August 2009, the Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) surveyed 705 Durham Region residents aged 18 years and older about their familiarity with the DRHD programs and services. The RRFSS is a random-digit-dialed telephone survey of adults aged 18 years and older, conducted by the Institute for Social Research at York University, on behalf of the Durham Region Health Department (DRHD). Since 2001, a sample of at least 100 Durham Region residents has been surveyed on a monthly basis regarding health risk behaviours such as smoking, alcohol use, well water testing, immunization, etc (for further information see under public health/health statistics). The information is essential to the DRHD for planning and evaluating programs and services as well as monitoring emerging health issues. Respondents were asked the following questions: How familiar are you with DRHD programs and services? Have you or your family ever used a DRHD program or service? How did you find out about DRHD programs or services? How satisfied were you with the service or information you received from DRHD? How could DRHD best get information to you about programs and services? 1

2 The internet is used to deliver many health messages. In addition to the above questions, this report includes an analysis of internet use for selected years between 2001 and Respondents were asked the following questions: Do you use the internet? Have you used the internet to access health-related information? Have you ever connected to DRHD s website? Familiarity, use and satisfaction of residents with DRHD Programs and Services More than two-thirds (70% ±3%) of Durham Region residents aged 18 years and over were very familiar or somewhat familiar with DRHD programs and services. Familiarity with DRHD programs and services was significantly higher in females: 75% (±5%) compared to 62% (±6%) in males. Familiarity with DRHD programs and services was highest in Clarington 80% (71% - 85%). Familiarity with DRHD Programs and Services by Demographic and Socio-economic Characteristics Characteristics Categories % 95% CI CV Sex** Males 62% 56%-68% 5.0 Females 75% 71%-80% Years 55% 37%-71% 16.4 Age Years 73% 66%-79% Years 71% 65%-76% Years 69% 60%-77% 6.0 Education Sec School or less 65% 58%-71% 4.9 Post Sec School 73% 69%-78% 3.1 Employed 66% 64%-73% 3.4 Employment Status Student 67% 41%-86% 18.0* Retired 72% 64%-79% 5.1 Unemployed/Unable to work 76% 65%-84% 6.5 <$30,000 69% 56%-80% 8.5 $30-$69,999 73% 65%-79% 5.0 Income $70-$99,999 71% 62%-80% 6.3 $100, % 64%-78% 4.9 Don t know 64% 56%-71% 6.4 Pickering 74% 62%-84% 7.4 Ajax 60% 49%-70% 9.2 Whitby 66% 57%-74% 6.7 Municipalities Oshawa 72% 65%-78% 4.6 Clarington 80% 71%-86% 4.8 Scugog 73% 56%-85% 10.2 Uxbridge 60% 38%-78% 17.9* Brock 64% 43%-81% 16.0 * Interpret wi th caution as coefficient of variation is between 16.6 and 33.3 ** Significant difference Of the households surveyed, over 40% (41% ±4%) had used a DRHD program or service in the past. The majority of the households that had used DRHD programs or services (93% ±3%) were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the program or service they received. 2

3 How did residents find out about DRHD Programs and Services? One-quarter (25% ±4%) of Durham Region residents found out about DRHD programs and services through a health professional. Word of mouth was a used by 11% (±3%) of area residents, followed by 10% (±3%) of residents who found out about DRHD programs and services through the newspaper. The three lowest reported methods of finding out about DRHD How did you find out about DRHD Programs and Services? Healt h Prof essional Word of Mout h Newspaper Pamphlet / Brochure/ Newslet t er School/ Workplace/ Healt hunit Internet/Website Bus Ad/Mall Display/Poster TV/ Radio * Ot her Don t Know * 2.3* 1.6* * Interpret with caution ** Multiple responses were allowed Percent ** (weighted) programs and services were the internet/website at 3.8% (±2%), bus advertisements, mall displays or posters at 2.3% (±2%), and TV/ radio at 1.6% (±1%). How could DRHD best get information to residents? Almost half (46% ±4%) of Durham Region residents indicated direct mailing as a method by which DHRD could best get information to them about programs and services. Using community newspapers was the second most frequently reported (16.4% ±3%) method, followed closely by the internet/website at 16.2% (±3%). A small Newspaper-Community Internet/Website Newspaper- daily Pamphlet/Brochure/Newsletter Health Professional 24.9 How could DHRD best get information to you about Programs and Services? TV/Radio Phone/Infoline Don't Know * Interpret with caution ** Multiple responses were allowed Mailing Other Percent ** (weighted) percentage, 2.6% (±1%) and 2.8% (±1%) cited using the telephone/information line or , respectively, as the best methods for getting information to them

4 What about the use of the internet and the DRHD Website? Since 2001, internet use by Durham Region residents has significantly increased. By 2010, 84% (±3%) of Durham Region adults reported using the internet and 66% (±3%) reported using of internet for health-related information. The use of DHRD s website increased significantly from 5.3% (±3%) in 2001 to 15% (±3%) by Use of Internet by Selected Years Durham Region Use the internet Use the internet for health-related information Use DRHD's website % of adults Summary While more than two-thirds of Durham Region adults were familiar with DRHD programs and services, a much smaller percentage, 41% (±4%) of households, used a DRHD program or service in the past. Of these however, the majority (93% ±3%) were satisfied with the program or service they received. Females were significantly more familiar with DRHD programs and services. No significant differences were found across different age, education or income categories. Health professionals (25% ±4%) were most frequently reported as a means to find out about DRHD programs and services while directly mailing (46% ±4%) was the best method by which DHRD could best get information to residents about programs and services. While a small percentage of Durham Region residents used the internet to find out about DRHD programs and services and almost one-fifth of residents indicated the internet as a method by which DRHD could best get information about programs and services to them, internet use is increasing and as of April 2010, 15% (±3%) of Durham Region residents used the DRHD website. 4

5 Data Notes 95% Confidence Interval (CI): Percentages are expressed in the form of the point estimate ±1.96 * standard error, which is the 95% confidence interval (CI) for a percentage. If a survey is repeated 100 times and the confidence interval is computed each time for a specific percentage, 95 of the 100 intervals would contain the true value of the percentage for the population from which the survey sample is drawn. A wide confidence interval reflects a large amount of variability or imprecision. Usually, the larger the sample size, the narrower the confidence intervals. In bar charts, the 95% confidence interval is represented by an error bar ( I ) at the top of each bar. Coefficient of Variation (CV) refers to the precision of the estimate. When a CV is between 16.6% and 33.3%, the estimate should be interpreted with caution because of high variability. An estimate with a CV over 33.3% is not releasable. Significant Difference refers to a difference between two estimated percentages that is not likely due to chance. If the 95% CIs of two estimates do not overlap, the difference between the estimates is considered to be statistically significantly different. Weighting: The individual weight variable was not applied to the variables Use of DRHD programs and services and Satisfaction with DHRD programs and services as the questions refer to the household. References 1. Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Initial Report on Public Health, Available online at: health_rep_ pdf 2. Ministry of and Long-Term Care. Public Health Units. Retrieved August 2010 from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website: 3. Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Ontario Public Health Standards Available online at: pdfs/ophs_2008.pdf For more information, contact Durham Region Health Department