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PR-06/21/04: Residents Asked for Opinions on Quality of Life

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 21, 2004 San Mateo County Health Services Agency Contact: Beverly Thames, (650) 573-3935 SAN MATEO COUNTY RESIDENTS ASKED FOR OPINIONS ON QUALITY OF LIFE Community Health Assessment Survey Underway San Mateo, CA - Residents of San Mateo County had conflicting opinions about life in one of the most affluent areas of the country: They think the economy is sinking and the cost of living soaring. Despite that, they still appear to love living here. There's also a growing tale of disparity here. At least that's what most county residents who participated in the Community Health Assessment survey thought three years ago. Now residents will have another chance to participate in the this population based survey as the 2004 assessment of health and quality of life gets under way in the county. Despite a steady climb in health and quality of life over the past 50 years, the 2001 survey turned up a couple of significant downturns in both quality of life and health factors since the prior survey in 1998. "There was an increasing incidence of obesity and other negative health factors," Dr. Scott Morrow, County Public Health Officer said. "Fewer than 10 percent of the adults surveyed said they were observing the four basics of a healthy lifestyle: Not smoking, maintaining a sensible weight, exercising and eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. We need to update the data and see if these things are turning around." Sponsored and funded by members of the Healthy Community Collaborative of San Mateo County, the survey is a scientifically valid study, conducted every three years. One thousand county residents will be randomly selected and asked to spend twenty-five minutes answering questions over the phone about their health, attitudes, and quality of life. "We want people to take the time to answer these questions as thoroughly and thoughtfully as possible," Morrow said. "The information is incredibly valuable to our community. We use it to plan health programs and services for the people of this county. We can't serve our community optimally if we don't ask what they need, want and how they feel. This is how we ask." The 2001 results fill a three-inch thick loose-leaf binder, but anyone looking for a more easily accessible look at that information should check out the Peninsula Library System's Community Information Project's online presentation at www.plsinfo.org/healthysmc/201. "The six-week survey, which has officially begun, will cost about $150,000 and each member of the Collaborative contributes toward that amount," Carole Groom, Chair of the Healthy Community Collaborative said. "Thanks to some additional funding, the Coastside will be over sampled as it was in 2001." Members of the Health Community Collaborative of San Mateo County include Hospital Consortium of San Mateo County, San Mateo County Health Services Agency, Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Redwood City and South San Francisco, Mills-Peninsula Health Services, Peninsula Community Foundation, Peninsula Library System, San Mateo County Human Services Agency, Sequoia Health Services, Seton Medical Center, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, and San Mateo Medical Center. ###