The VPHS is an important component of the Department of Health and Human Services’ population health surveillance work. The annual survey series is an ongoing source of quality information on the health of adult Victorians.
The VPHS has been conducted each year since 2001 and is based on a sample of 7,500 adults who are 18 years old or over. The participants are randomly selected from each of the eight Department of Health and Human Services regions in the state. In 2008 and again in 2011–12, the sample size for the survey was expanded to include the 79 local government areas (LGAs) in the state.
The aim of the survey is to provide quality, timely indicators of population health that directly apply to evidence-based policy development and strategic planning across the department and wider community. The survey is based on core question modules to allow reporting on trends over time and to inform decisions about public health priorities. The survey findings fill a significant gap in population health data and provide information to ensure public health programs remain relevant and responsive to current and emerging health issues.
The impact of using data from the VPHS is extensive across the government and non-government sectors of Victoria. The survey provides quality data for a range of indicators of public health importance at the state and departmental regional levels.
Department of Health & Human Services
The Victorian Population Health Survey has been conducted each year since 2001 and is based on a sample of adults aged 18 years and over, randomly selected from households from each of the eight health regions of the Department of Health and Human Services regions in the state. The survey was administered using computer-assisted telephone interviews. Please refer to the Methods section of the report for a more detailed description of the methods.
The information in the report focuses on modifiable risk factors for chronic disease and self-reported health status. Please see Appendix of the report for the findings of selected indicators for each Department of Health and Human Services region.
Summary of findings
A summary of results from the 2013 Victorian Population Health Survey (VPHS) is provided below. All reported prevalence, or proportions, in this summary are crude estimates (not age-adjusted), unless otherwise stated.
Smoking
Overall, 14.2 per cent of people who are 18 years old or over were current smokers in 2013. There was no statistically significant difference in the age-adjusted prevalence of current smoking between men (15.6 per cent) and women (13.2 per cent). There has been a significant decline in the age-adjusted proportion of ‘current smokers’ in both men and women during the period 2003 to 2013.
Vegetable intake
Based on the most current NHMRC (2013) guidelines, just over one in 15 people (6.6 per cent) met the recommended minimum daily intake for vegetables. No trends over time have been reported, as this is the first VPHS report with estimates based on NHMRC (2013) guidelines.
Fruit intake
Based on the most current NHMRC (2013) guidelines, just over one in two people (50.1 per cent) consumed the recommended two or more serves of fruit daily in 2013. The age-adjusted proportion was significantly higher in women (57.1 per cent) compared with men (43.0 per cent).
No trends over time have been reported, as this is the first VPHS report with estimates based on NHMRC (2013) guidelines.
Physical activity
The proportion of people undertaking adequate physical activity (measured as sufficient time and sessions) to meet the national guidelines was 59.4 per cent. The age-adjusted proportion was similar in men (57.7 per cent) and women (60.8 per cent).
The age-adjusted proportion of sedentary women has significantly increased over the period 2005 to 2013. However, no significant trend was observed in men during this period.
Body weight
Based on body mass index (BMI), the proportion of Victorians categorised as overweight in 2013 was 33.2 per cent; the age-adjusted proportion was significantly higher in men (41.8 per cent) compared with women (24.1 per cent). The proportion of Victorians categorised as obese, according to their BMI, was 16.8 per cent; the age-adjusted proportion was not significantly different in men (17.0 per cent) compared with women (16.3 per cent). The age-adjusted proportion of underweight women has declined over the period 2003 to 2013.
This was also the case for both men and women with a normal BMI. In contrast, the proportions of overweight and obese men significantly increased over the period 2003 to 2013; however, only the proportion of obese women significantly increased during this period.
Psychological distress
The proportion of people with high or very high levels of psychological distress, as determined by the Kessler 10 scale, was 10.9 per cent. The age-adjusted proportion was similar in men (10.3 per cent) and women (11.6 per cent). The prevalence of low, moderate or high or very high levels of psychological distress remained unchanged in men and women during the period 2003 to 2013.
Self-reported health
Overall, 43.6 per cent of Victorians reported their health status as being ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ in 2013; 37.5 per cent reported their health status as ‘good’, while 18.6 per cent reported their health status as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’. The age-adjusted proportions were similar in men and women.
The age-adjusted proportions, in men and women, for all categories of self-reported health have not significantly changed over the period 2005 to 2013.