The Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) series was established as a result of the publication in 1993 of the Scotland's health: a challenge to us all (the Report of a Working Party to the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland). The first survey in the series, in 1995 (SN 3807) was commissioned by the then Scottish Office Department of Health. The second (SN 4379) and third (SN 5318) in the series were carried out in 1998 and 2003, respectively. From 2008 until 2015, the survey is being carried out continuously, with each year's data deposited separately. The Scottish Government Scottish Health Survey webpages contain further information about the series, including latest news and publications. The aims of the SHeS are to: estimate the prevalence of particular health conditions in Scotland estimate the prevalence of certain risk factors associated with these health conditions and to document the pattern of related health behaviours look at differences between regions and between subgroups of the population in the extent of their having these particular health conditions or risk factors, and to make comparisons with other national statistics for Scotland and England monitor trends in the population's health over time; and make a major contribution to monitoring progress towards health targets.
Each survey in the series includes a set of core questions and measurements (height and weight and, if applicable, blood pressure, waist circumference, urine and saliva samples), plus modules of questions on specific health conditions that vary from year to year. Each year the core sample has also been augmented by an additional boosted sample for children. Since 2008 NHS Health Boards have also had the opportunity to boost the number of adult interviews carried out in their area.
Core questions are included in the survey every year. Version A of the two modules, asked of a sub-sample of respondents, is the 'rotating' biennial module. The child interview does not have a core and modular structure so the questions are the same every year. Version B of the two modules, also asked of a sub-sample, is known as the KAM module and is a replacement for the Health Education Population Survey (HEPS), previously run by NHS Health Scotland. (The HEPS series for 1996-2007 is held at the Archive under GN 33340.)
The Scottish Health Survey, 2013 was the ninth survey in the series, designed to provide data at a national level about the population living in private households in Scotland. Since its inception in 1995, the SHeS interview has included a second stage follow-up visit from a survey nurse to collect biological samples and measures. Between 2012 and 2015, specially trained interviewers are taking many of the measurements and samples, previously collected by nurses, from a sub-sample of adult participants.
NOTE: There are several variables related to gambling activities and problem gambling within the dataset (see Page 51 of the SHeS 2013 Data Documentation).
