Ministry To Hold Steps Population Health Survey
The Ministry of Health will be commencing the STEPS to a Well Bermuda Survey in October 2019, Minister of Health Kim Wilson said in the House of Assembly today [Sept 27]
The Minister said, “The survey is conducted in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization utilizing the standardized Pan-American Health Organization / World Health Organization’s STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance.
“The cooperation of all in the community is essential to ensure that this vital health information is captured. A representative sample of Bermuda’s adult population aged 18 to 69 years is required out of the 2,195 households selected to be surveyed. We need those selected to complete the survey. And we need those that aren’t selected to encourage their selected family members, friends, etc. to participate.
“Participation involves three steps, all of which can be done in the participant’s home, and in essence, provides a free health screening for those selected. The STEPS are as follows:
- “Step 1: Interviewers will use a questionnaire to assess participant’s health-related behaviours.
- “Step 2: Participants will have their blood pressure, weight, height and waist circumference measured.
- “Step 3: At a convenient time, a community health professional will take a finger stick blood sample to measure fasting blood glucose and cholesterol levels.
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr Speaker and Honourable Members,
I rise today to announce that the Ministry of Health will be commencing the STEPS to a Well Bermuda Survey in October 2019.
The survey is conducted in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization utilizing the standardized Pan-American Health Organization / World Health Organization’s STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance.
This STEPS 2019 survey will update the information collected in the previous STEPS survey conducted in 2014. We anticipate the STEPS 2019 survey will enable us to update essential health information about our population.
STEPS surveys provide a sound evidence base on public health priorities for the prevention and control of chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. STEPS surveys also track the direction and magnitude of both risk and protective factors that influence the health of each of us in the population, by exploring aspects of behaviour such as diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and access to healthcare, including screenings.
In STEPS 2019, the risks of violence and injury, including road traffic accidents, will also be assessed, as it remains a public health priority. All information collected aids in identifying where resources should best be targeted and for monitoring and evaluating the impact of any initiatives, interventions or actions implemented.
The cooperation of all in the community is essential to ensure that this vital health information is captured. A representative sample of Bermuda’s adult population aged 18 to 69 years is required out of the 2,195 households selected to be surveyed. We need those selected to complete the survey. And we need those that aren’t selected to encourage their selected family members, friends, etc. to participate.
Participation involves three steps, all of which can be done in the participant’s home, and in essence, provides a free health screening for those selected. The STEPS are as follows:
- Step 1: Interviewers will use a questionnaire to assess participant’s health-related behaviours.
- Step 2: Participants will have their blood pressure, weight, height and waist circumference measured.
- Step 3: At a convenient time, a community health professional will take a finger stick blood sample to measure fasting blood glucose and cholesterol levels.
On completion of STEPs 2 and 3, participants will receive the results of their measurements which can be used personally and/or shared with their healthcare provider who can then decide on the most appropriate course of action given the results. All information provided to the trained data collectors is kept confidential and will be collated and anonymized.
As stated, we, the Ministry of Health, need the help of all in the community to ensure a successful 2019 STEPS to a Well Bermuda survey. As I stand here, I am sure that each of us can name someone affected by a chronic non-communicable disease such as diabetes or cancer. I am even more certain that each of us can name someone with chronic disease risk factors such as overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, insufficient physical activity, lack of fruits and vegetables in their diet and/or smoking.
There is a saying within health that the risk factors of today are the diseases of tomorrow. Effective prevention and control of these diseases depends on access to accurate and reliable information about their prevalence and associated risk factors. This information is obtained from the STEPS to a Well Bermuda surveys.
So I would like to encourage you to “Take STEPS to a Well Bermuda”. If selected, say “Yes” to the interviewer and participate to help Bermuda’s overall health and your own. And those not selected, I encourage you to encourage those selected to participate. A Well Bermuda depends on all of us!
Thank you Mr Speaker.
