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PubMed2003

A cross-national perspective on school bullying in Northern Ireland: a supplement to Smith, et al. (1999).

There is great value in exploring the prevalence of school bullying from a cross-national perspective. Smith, Morita, Junger-Tas, Olweus, Catalano, and Slee in 1999 presented a cross-national perspective on the nature, prevalence, and correlates of school bullying that encompassed a wide range of countries. However, Northern Ireland was not included, despite potentially being an important country to include, given its volatile social, ethnic, and religious history--leading to the concern that the population has become somewhat habituated to low level aggression. Thus, the present paper provides a review of the current literature on school bullying in the Northern Ireland school system. Evidence presented suggests that the incidence of school bullying in Northern Ireland may be higher than that in the rest of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Aggression↗
PubMed2002

A survey of diabetes care in general practice in Northern Ireland.

We aimed to describe some key features of diabetes care carried out in primary care settings in Northern Ireland using a descriptive postal questionnaire survey sent to every general practice in Northern Ireland. 252 (70%) of practices responded. Of these 92% of practices have active registers of people with diabetes, identifying 1.9% of their population as having diabetes and 85% of practices use these registers for call/recall visits. Seventy five per cent of practices held diabetes clinics run by the general practitioner and nurse (63%) or a nurse alone (32%). Only 47% of practices felt they received adequate support from the acute diabetes team; with 29% meeting with them this team regularly and only 19% having a shared care protocol. Overall practices provided most of the routine care for 60% of their diabetic patients. The majority of GPs and practice nurses had received some diabetes education in the previous year. There has been a considerable change in the delivery of routine diabetes care in Northern Ireland. A large proportion of diabetes care now takes place in the community, much of it delivered by practice nurses. The organisational infrastructure necessary for the delivery of care is in place. Many practices have special interest in diabetes but the survey highlights a need for better communication and cooperation with secondary care. General practitioners recognise their educational needs in diabetes. They should also be aware of their practice nurses' needs, which should be addressed. There should be initiatives to improve the primary-secondary care interface in Northern Ireland.

Continuity of Patient Care↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Legionnaires' disease in Ireland--a cause for concern?

Legionnaires' disease is a multi-system illness that can have widespread clinical symptoms, though the principle manifestation is pneumonia. A review of all legionnaires' disease case notifications in Ireland in the 4 year period 1998-2001 was undertaken to assess the degree of concern health authorities here should have in relation to this disease. There were 17 cases of legionnaires' disease (all were legionella pneumophila serogroup 1) notified to the National Disease Surveillance Centre in the period 1998-2001. Nine cases were travel-associated cases with the majority of cases occurring during the summer months. There were 2 deaths. It would appear that legionnaires' disease is rare in Ireland but when compared with other European countries Ireland is conspicuous by its low rate. This would suggest that a major degree of under diagnosis and under reporting of legionnaires' disease currently exists in Ireland.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of the current status of operating and closed landfills in Russia, Finland and Ireland with regard to water pollution and methane emission.

The annual production of municipal solid wastes (MSW) in Russia, Finland and Ireland in the late 1990s accounts for 37.5, 2.5 and 2.05 min. tonnes or 252, 488 and 566 kg per capita, respectively. 96.5, 64 and 91% of these wastes (for Russia, Finland and Ireland, correspondingly) are currently disposed of via landfilling. However, nowadays, MSW management in these countries is undergoing drastic changes (source separation, closure of old landfills, reduction of the number of landfills etc.) forced by recent legislation set by the European Union and Russian authorities. This paper evaluates the current status of MSW landfills, as well as information on current leachate and methane emissions in the three above mentioned countries. Landfill leachates are highly variable in each country and between different countries due to different rainfall and climatic conditions and also due to poor landfill top insulation/cover. Leachates in poorly structured landfills are very dilute, whereas leachates with total COD and nitrogen contents as high as 33,700 mg COD/l and 4,030 mg N/l, respectively, have been detected from state-of-the-art sites. Currently, on-site treatment of leachates exists at only a few landfills in Russia, Finland and Ireland but this situation will be considerably improved during the next years. The annual methane emissions from landfills are estimated as 500-900 and 77 ktonnes for Russia and Finland, respectively. Recent estimates from Ireland suggest an annual landfill methane emission of c. 2.1 Mt CO2 equivalent. Several systems of methane recovery have been developed in all three countries and these are currently in different stages of implementation.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed2006

The practice of conscious sedation by Senior Dental Surgeons in the Health Board Dental Service in the Republic of Ireland.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the nature and extent of the practice of conscious sedation by Senior Dental Surgeons in the Health Board Dental Service (HBDS) in the Republic of Ireland and to determine the barriers to the use of conscious sedation. DESIGN: Postal questionnaire survey. SETTING: The Health Board Dental Service in the Republic of Ireland in 2002. SUBJECTS AND MATERIALS: Questionnaires were sent to fifty-five Senior Dental Surgeons working in the HBDS. RESULTS: Fifty questionnaires (90.9%) were returned. Less than a quarter of Senior Dental Surgeons reported current sedation use in their area. Oral sedation was the most commonly used method with few using relative analgesia and less using intravenous sedation. Forty percent of Senior Dental Surgeons surveyed reported receiving training in conscious sedation as an undergraduate. Nearly 60% of those surveyed reported using conscious sedation in a previous employment. All respondents said the main barrier to the use of conscious sedation in the HBDS was the lack of training opportunities on the subject in Ireland. CONCLUSIONS: Conscious sedation techniques other than oral, are used to a very limited extent in the HBDS in Ireland. There is great interest amongst Senior Dental Surgeons in the increased use of conscious sedation techniques. A lack of training opportunities is the main barrier to the expansion of their use.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Police response to wife assault in Northern Ireland.

To a large extent research on police response to wife assault had been dominated by the North American experience. Recent work in Britain has cast doubt on the extent to which these findings are applicable to the British context and drawn attention to the need for studies which explore the specific context in which policing occurs. It is argued that this approach has particular relevance in Northern Ireland where, in contrast to North America and Britain, the police operate in a context of political violence. Using data obtained from a series of semi-structured interviews with 67 women who defined themselves as victims of wife assault, the study examines police response in Northern Ireland. While the results indicate similar patterns of police response in Northern Ireland as those found elsewhere, the results also suggest that factors specific to the Northern Ireland context may influence women's use of the police, police procedures and police attitudes, and women's experience as victims.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Hepatitis B immunisation in northern Ireland: an epidemiological and economic analysis.

The availability of active immunisation against hepatitis B has stimulated demand for protection among health care workers. The vaccine remains expensive, and widespread immunisation will divert scarce resources from elsewhere. The arguments in favour of widespread immunisation of health care workers are based on studies from areas with prevalences of infection and carriage which are much higher than in Northern Ireland. This study was carried out to provide a rational basis for deciding who should be offered immunisation. The epidemiology of hepatitis B infection in Northern Ireland is examined. The incidence of hepatitis B in Northern Ireland is one of the lowest in the world. The evidence for an increased risk of infection among health care workers throughout the world is reviewed. The risk of infection varies widely among different countries and there is evidence that increased awareness of the hazards of sharps injuries and the introduction of safe handling techniques have substantially reduced the risk. An economic analysis suggests that a widespread programme of hepatitis B immunisation in Northern Ireland compares unfavourably with other health care interventions.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1996

Salmonella in retail poultry in Northern Ireland.

A prospective survey was carried out in Northern Ireland between February and August 1994 to assess the current levels of salmonella in retail chickens, and to determine whether contamination rates differed between chickens sold in supermarkets and by butchers. One hundred and forty chilled and frozen raw chickens were sampled from retail display and examined for the presence of salmonella using an approved method. Contamination was commoner in chickens that were chilled, sold from smaller premises, and reared or slaughtered outside Northern Ireland. Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 was the most commonly isolated type. The contamination rate of about 7% is considerably lower than in Great Britain and this may partially explain the lower rate of human salmonella infections in Northern Ireland. This finding supports the recommendations made in the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Standards of Food's report on poultry meat, since many of the improvements proposed are already in operation in areas of the Northern Ireland poultry industry.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Leptospirosis in the Republic of Ireland: 1985 to 1996.

Official government statistics and serological laboratory data provide limited information about the incidence of leptospirosis in the Republic of Ireland. The mean annual notified incidence in the Republic of Ireland from 1985 to 1996 was 1.3/million. The incidence according to hospital discharge diagnosis was higher at 4.9/million. One hundred and seventy-five serologically confirmed cases of leptospirosis were reported from 1986 to 1996, giving a mean annual incidence of 4.5/million. The true incidence of leptospirosis in the Republic of Ireland is probably higher, as hospital discharge data are incomplete and full serological testing was not always performed. Our data indicate that leptospirosis is an underestimated public health problem with only 26% of cases being notified. A national communicable disease surveillance centre in the Republic of Ireland would facilitate better monitoring and understanding of this disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Introduction: All Ireland Fatigue Coalition.

The first professional meeting and educational symposium of the All Ireland Fatigue Coalition (AIFC) convened in Dublin in September 2002, with an attendance of 350 health professionals who work in cancer research and cancer patient care. The AIFC is a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals from Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the U.S. whose mission is to champion the proactive management of cancer-related fatigue. The major goals of the symposium were to better understand the status and prevalence of cancer fatigue on the island of Ireland and to learn how to better assess and manage fatigue in cancer patients. An international faculty presented on topics ranging from defining the condition to developing an international protocol implementing a fatigue algorithm.

Fatigue↗
PubMed2004

Pretransplant MELD score and post liver transplantation survival in the UK and Ireland.

It has been shown that the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is an accurate predictor of survival in patients with liver disease without transplantation. Four recent studies carried out in the United States have demonstrated that the MELD score obtained immediately prior to transplantation is also associated with post-transplant patient survival. Our aim was to evaluate how accurately the MELD score predicts 90-day post-transplant survival in adult patients with chronic liver disease in the UK and Ireland. The UK and Ireland Liver Transplant Audit has data on all liver transplants since 1994. We studied survival of 3838 adult patients after first elective liver transplantation according to United Network for Organ Sharing categories of their MELD scores (< or = 10, 11-18, 19-24, 25-35, > or =36). The overall survival at 90-days was 90.2%. The 90-day survival varied according to the United Network for Organ Sharing MELD categories (92.6%, 91.9%, 89.7%, 89.7%, and 70.8%, respectively; P < 0.01). Therefore, only those patients with a MELD score of 36 or higher (3% of the patients) had a survival that was markedly lower than the rest. As a consequence, the ability of the MELD score to discriminate between patients who were dead or alive was poor (c-statistic 0.58). Re-estimating the coefficients in the MELD regression model, even allowing for nonlinear relationships, did not improve its discriminatory ability. In conclusion, in the UK and Ireland the MELD score is significantly associated with post-transplant survival, but its predictive ability is poor. These results are in agreement with results found in the United States. Therefore, the most appropriate system to support patient selection for transplantation will be one that combines a pretransplant survival model (e.g., MELD score) with a properly developed post-transplant survival model.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey: the dietary fibre intake of Irish adults.

OBJECTIVE: Mean daily intakes of dietary fibre (DF, Southgate) and non-starch polysaccharide (NSP, Englyst) are estimated in a representative sample of adults aged 18-64 years in Ireland. The contribution of food groups to DF and NSP intake is reported and fibre intakes are compared with dietary recommendations and with intakes in some European countries. DESIGN: Food consumption was estimated using 7-day food diaries for a representative sample (n=1379); 662 men, 717 women) of 18-64 year old adults in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland selected from the electoral register. DF and NSP intakes were estimated from tables of food composition. RESULTS: The mean daily intake of DF in the total sample was 20.2 g (standard deviation (SD) 7.8) [23.2 g (SD 8.5) in men, 17.4 g (SD 5.9) in women] or 2.24 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.7) [2.16 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.7) in men, 2.33 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.7) in women]. Mean daily intake of NSP was 14.8 g (SD 6.2) [16.7 g (SD 6.8) in men, 13.0 g (SD 5.0) in women] or 1.65 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.6) [1.56 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.6) in men, 1.74 g MJ(-1) (SD 0.6) in women]. The main food groups that contributed to mean daily intake of DF (NSP) in the sample were breads 31% (23%), potatoes 19% (23%), and vegetables 17% (19%). Absolute intakes of DF and NSP were higher (P<0.001) in men than women; however, women overall consumed more (P<0.001) fibre-dense diets than men. Women aged 18-35 years consumed less (P<0.01) DF and NSP (g) than women aged 36-64 years. Both men and women aged 18-35 years consumed less (P<0.01) fibre-dense diets than men and women aged 36-64 years. The NSP intake was below the nutritional goal of 18 g day(-1) in 77% of adults and below the minimum of the recommended range (12 g day(-1) in 37% of the total sample. Compliance (i.e. the maximum number of individuals whose collective mean daily intake corresponded to the population goal) with the (UK) population goal for an average intake of 18 g day(-1) NSP was achieved by a greater proportion of the population (63%) than compliance with the (German) dietary fibre recommendation of 30 g day(-1) (27%) or the (Nordic) recommendation of 3 g MJ(-1) day(-1) (33%). CONCLUSION: DF (NSP) intakes were lower than dietary recommendations in a substantial proportion of the population. This is likely to contribute to impaired bowel function and constipation, which in turn may contribute to increased risk of chronic gastrointestinal disease.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey: mineral intakes in 18-64-year-old adults.

OBJECTIVE: To measure mineral intakes and the contribution of different food groups to mineral intakes in adults aged 18-64 years in Ireland. Intakes are reported for Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Cu and Zn. The adequacy of mineral intakes in the population and the risk of occurrence of excessive intakes are also assessed. DESIGN: Food consumption was estimated using a 7-day food diary for a representative sample (n=1379; 662 men, 717 women) of 18-64-year-old adults in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland selected randomly from the electoral register. Mineral intakes (Ca, Mg, P, Fe, Cu and Zn) were estimated using tables of food composition. RESULTS: Mean nutrient density of intakes was higher for women than men for Ca and Fe and increased with age for all minerals, except Ca for men and Fe for women. Meat and meat products were the major contributor to mean daily intakes of Zn (38%), P (23%), Fe (18%), Cu (15%) and Mg (13%); dairy products (milk, yoghurt and cheese) to Ca (44%), P (22%), Zn (14%) and Mg (11%); bread and rolls to Fe (21%), Cu (18%), Ca and Mg (17%), Zn (13%) and P (12%); potatoes and potato products to Cu (16%), Mg (14%) and Fe (10%); and breakfast cereals to Fe (13%). In women of all ages nutritional supplements contributed 7.6%, 4.4%, 3.6% and 2.2% of mean daily intake of Fe, Zn, Cu and Ca, respectively, while in men of all ages, nutritional supplements contributed 2.7%, 2.3%, 1.7% and 0.6%, respectively, to mean daily intakes of Fe, Zn, Cu and Ca. Adequacy of minerals intakes in population groups was assessed using the average requirement (AR) as a cut-off value. A significant prevalence of intakes below the AR was observed for Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn but not P. A higher proportion of women than men had intakes below the AR for all minerals. Almost 50% of 18-50-year-old females had intakes below the AR for Fe, while 23%, 23% and 15% of women of all ages had intakes below the AR for Ca, Cu and Zn, respectively. For men of all ages, 11%, 8% and 13% had intakes below the AR for Ca, Cu and Zn, respectively. There appears to be little risk of excessive intake of Ca, Mg, P, Cu or Zn in any age/sex category. However, 2.9% of women of all ages had intakes above the tolerable upper intake level for Fe (45 mg) due to supplement use. CONCLUSION: Almost 50% of women aged 18-50 years had Fe intakes below the AR and relatively high proportions of women of all ages had intakes below the AR for Ca, Cu and Zn. With the possible exception of iron intake from supplements in women, there appears to be little risk of excessive intake of minerals in the adult population. Meat and meat products, dairy products (milk, cheese and yoghurt), bread and rolls, potatoes and potato products and breakfast cereals are important sources of minerals; nutritional supplements make only a small contribution to mineral intakes in the population as a whole but may contribute significantly to intakes among supplement users.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Analyses of the anthropometric data from the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain measured anthropometric data for weight, height and other parameters not previously measured in the Irish population such as waist and hip circumferences and body composition. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. Weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference and body composition were measured according to standard procedures. SETTING: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, 1997-1999. SUBJECTS: Random representative sample of 1379 adults aged 18-64 years. RESULTS: With the exception of body fat, all anthropometric values were significantly higher for men than women (P<0.001). All measurements were significantly higher in the 36-50-year-old age group compared with 18-35 year olds. Height was the exception, which decreased significantly with age (P<0.05). Weight, height and body mass index (BMI) have increased in Ireland since last measured in 1988 and in 1990. Over the last decade, obesity has increased in men 2.5 fold from 8% to 20% and in women by 1.25 fold from 13% to 16%. Significantly more women have a normal BMI than men (50.4% vs. 33.3%; P<0.05). Cut-off points for a high waist circumference and high waist-to-hip ratio identified 47% and 33% of the population, respectively, to be at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Social class did not have any significant effect on mean BMI. Location of residence influenced BMI but not in any consistent manner. Ex-smokers had a significantly higher BMI than non-smokers and smokers (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A revision of current recommendations for combating obesity is warranted to improve the health of the Irish population. Further research is needed to identify the factors that have contributed to the dramatic increase in the prevalence of obesity in men over the last decade and have resulted in a higher prevalence of obesity in men than in women.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2001

Physical activity patterns in a nationally representative sample of adults in Ireland.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate habitual levels of physical activity in a nationally representative sample of adults in Ireland. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire. Usual levels of work, recreational and household activities were evaluated in relation to anthropometric, demographic and socio-economic characteristics. The amount and intensity of all activities were quantified by assigning metabolic equivalents (METS) to each activity. SETTING: Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, 1997-1999. SUBJECTS: Random sample of 1379 adults aged 18-64 years. RESULTS: Men were approximately twice as active in work and recreational activity (139.7 +/- 83.9 METS) as women (68.5 +/- 49.8 METS; P<0.001) but women were three times more active in household tasks (65.9 +/- 58.7 METS vs. 22.6 +/- 24.6 METS; P<0.001). Overall levels of physical activity declined with increasing age, particularly leisure activity in men. In women the decline in work activity was offset by spending more time in household pursuits. Twenty-five per cent of the subjects were extremely overweight (body mass index (BMI>28 kg m(-2)) or obese (BMI >30 kg m (-2)). Fewer obese subjects reported higher levels of work and leisure activities. However, a higher percentage of obese women reported participation in the higher levels of household activities. Participation rates in recreational activities were low. Walking was the most important leisure activity of both men (41%) and women (60%). In terms of hours per week spent in vigorous physical activity, men were more active than women, professional and skilled non-manual women were more active than women in other social classes, and younger subjects (aged 18-35 years) were more active than older subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The holistic approach used in the assessment of physical activity in this study has revealed important and subtle differences in the activity patterns of men and women. Failure to fully characterise the respective activity patterns of men and women could lead to ill-informed public health policy aimed at promoting and sustaining lifetime habits of physical activity. The results suggest that simple population-focused programmes to promote physical activity are unlikely to offer the same chance of long-term success as more sensitive and individualised strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Adult persons with intellectual disabilities on the island of Ireland.

BACKGROUND: Information on the numbers of adult persons (aged 20 years and over) with intellectual disability (ID) is rarely collated at a national level. This is an impediment to service planning especially for a changing population. METHODS: A database of all persons in receipt of ID services has been operating in the Republic of Ireland since 1995. In Northern Ireland, regional databases can be used to provide similar information. RESULTS: A total of 25,134 persons were known to services in 2002; an overall prevalence for the island of 6.34 per 1,000. However this rate varied for different age groupings and across the two parts of the island. General population characteristics, as well as service factors, appear to account for this. Significantly more people lived with family carers in Northern Ireland. By 2021, it was estimated that the population would increase by over 20% with around one-third of persons aged over 50 years. CONCLUSIONS: These data illustrate the variations that exist in the numbers of adult persons with ID known to services across and within regions of a country. Hence caution must be exercised in extrapolating prevalence rates derived in one area to another. The availability of comparative national data highlights issues around the equitable funding and delivery of services.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The rising cost of glaucoma drugs in Ireland 1996-2003.

BACKGROUND: Glaucoma affects approximately 2% of the population in developed countries and is estimated to affect 67 million people worldwide. The authors investigated the effect of the introduction of new medications on the volume and cost of drugs for glaucoma in two countries, Northern Ireland (NI, population approximately 1.7 million) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI, population approximately 3.9 million) in the 8 years from 1996 to 2003. They also looked at the surgical rates for glaucoma within the same time period for the two countries. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of drug costs, prescribing data, and operation rates for glaucoma in Ireland from January 1996 to December 2003. Information regarding costs and volume were obtained for each type of glaucoma drug and these were then grouped into the glaucoma treatment subsections as found in the British National Formulary. The drug information was obtained from the Central Services Agency in NI and IMS Health in the ROI and included both public and private prescriptions. The information on surgical rates for glaucoma was obtained from the Department of Health and Social Services in NI and the Hospital In-patient Enquiry (HIPE) data national files in the ROI. RESULTS: There was a 30% increase in prescription items for glaucoma in NI and a 59% increase in the ROI from 1996 to 2003. The costs increased more rapidly than the number of items: 227% in the ROI and 78% in NI from January 1996 to December 2003. In the ROI, there was an average 19% year on year increase in costs. In NI, new drugs accounted for 40% of the quantity of prescription items for glaucoma and 63% of the market cost in 2003. In the ROI new drugs accounted for 57% of the quantity and 77% of the market cost for glaucoma in 2003; prostaglandin analogue drugs alone accounted for 53% of the cost. The number of trabeculectomies performed decreased by more than 60% in both countries. CONCLUSION: Volume and cost of glaucoma drugs increased dramatically in both NI and the ROI from 1996 to 2003, probably the result of a combination of changing demographics and a changing approach towards the management of patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension. In 2003 in the ROI, prostaglandin analogues were the most commonly prescribed class of drug for patients with glaucoma and/or ocular hypertension causing a profound rise in drug expenditure.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2006

Emerging advantages and drawbacks of telephone surveying in public health research in Ireland and the U.K.

BACKGROUND: Telephone surveys have been used widely in public health research internationally and are being increasingly used in Ireland and the U.K. METHODS: This study compared three telephone surveys conducted on the island of Ireland from 2000 to 2004, examining study methodology, outcome measures and the per unit cost of each completed survey. We critically examined these population-based surveys which all explored health related attitudes and behaviours. RESULTS: Over the period from 2000 to 2005 the percentage of calls which succeeded in contacting an eligible member of the public fell, from 52.9% to 31.8%. There was a drop in response rates to the surveys (once contact was established) from 58.6% to 17.7%. Costs per completed interview rose from 4.48 euro to 15.65 euro. Respondents were prepared to spend 10-15 minutes being surveyed, but longer surveys yielded poorer completion rates. Respondents were willing to discuss issues of a sensitive nature. Interviews after 9 pm were less successful, with complaints about the lateness of the call. Randomisation from electronic residential telephone directory databases excluded all ex-directory numbers and thus was not as representative of the general population as number generation by the hundred-bank method. However the directory database was more efficient in excluding business and fax numbers. CONCLUSION: Researchers should take cognisance of under-representativeness of land-line telephone surveys, of the increasing difficulties in contacting the public and of mounting personnel costs. We conclude that telephone surveying now requires additional strategies such as a multimode approach, or incentivisation, to be a useful, cost-effective means of acquiring data on public health matters in Ireland and the U.K.

Attitude to Health↗