Description
Health inequality is a problem that deserves more attention in Portugal, mainly due to the lack and use of reliable health data. The project contributes to improved public health and reduced health inequalities among the Portuguese population, through improved delivery, communication and use of reliable epidemiological information based on strengthened national health information systems and health registries. The project includes: Capacity-building on producing, disseminating and using epidemiological data; implementation of a system that delivers information resulting from the first health examination survey in Portugal to all relevant target audiences, and fostering the use of a national health registry including biological material to support evidence based interventions aiming to reduce health inequalities. The project builds on the National Health Plan and Health Survey and previous collaboration between the Portuguese and the Norwegian Public Health Institute (NIPH). The Donor project partner is the Department of Epidemiology of NIPH.
Summary of project results
Health inequalities are a problem that needs more attention in Portugal, given the scarcity of epidemiological information and the differences in mortality, morbidity and health care use of the population. National population-based health surveys, by gathering information directly from the studied population and integrating several areas like social, behavioural, health and disease status and disability of the population, constitute a unique source of information for its in-depth knowledge, as well as the use of health care, also allowing the identification of inequality factors between and within the different population groups. The information generated by these surveys is essential for the conceptualization, development and evaluation of national and regional health plans and programs, as well as for epidemiological research, in particular regarding the effects of risk factors and protective factors related to attitudes, behaviours and choices. In Portugal, five National Health Interview Surveys have been performed from 1987 to 2014, but no national health examination survey has been performed until now. Health examination surveys (HES), where questionnaires are complemented with physical examination and laboratory tests, provide information with greater validity, accuracy and quality. For this, the European Commission has included HES in its strategy to improve quality, comparability and access to high quality health information at the European level. The aim of the Pre-Defined Project was to create and maintain a regular HES for supporting Public Health monitoring, programme evaluation, and Public Health research in Portugal. The information produced has directly contributed to the improvement of the existing health information, useful for the development of evidence-based public health policies, and data management capacities. Also, the project contributed to capacitate the national and regional teams to carry out such surveys and to comply with the European recommendations. The outputs of this project, namely its scientific reports, support the National Health Plan by providing improved, updated and better quality population-based information on the health status, health determinants and health care use of the Portuguese population.
Summary of bilateral results
The formal Partnership with the NIPH, in the person of Heidi Lyshol, has been vital in each of the project phases, since the study protocol design to data analysis and results dissemination. The colaboration with Heidi Lyshol was also fundamental for assuring the quality control of the procedures of the National Health Examination Survey. In the scope of Funds for Bilateral Relations, two training workshops were organized and extensively discussed with the NIPH trainers (Philipp Hessel and Vegard Skirbekk;Tove Kolset, Rebecca Bruu Carver and Heidi Lyshol): Workshop on survey data analysis for complex samples and health inequalities and the Workshop on Communication Strategies on Public Health. As a result of this partnership a proposal to a funding call to be submitted in November 2017 is currently being prepared by INSA with the NIPH as partner.