The Scottish Health Survey 2024 - Volume 2: Technical Report

1.6.2     Household response

Tables 1.1a and 1.1b show a detailed breakdown of the SHeS response for sampled addresses in 2024. Addresses with unknown eligibility have been allocated as eligible and ineligible proportional to the levels of eligibility for the remainder of the sample. This approach provides a conservative estimate of the response rate as it estimates a high proportion of eligible cases amongst addresses with unknown eligibility.

At each selected household in the main sample, all adults and a maximum of two children were eligible for interview. When considering the household response rate, households classed as “responding” were those where at least one eligible person opted-in/consented to interview and was interviewed. The tables show that for the main sample, 37.0% of eligible households were classed as responding (40.7% excluding addresses not covered).

In the child boost CHI-screened sample, 72.5% of issued addresses were deemed eligible and interviews were conducted at 44.4% of these households.

Table 1.2a shows that across Heath Boards, the percentage of the sample households where at least one eligible person was interviewed ranged from 27.8% (Greater Glasgow & Clyde) to 80.9% (Shetland Islands). Fully cooperating households were those where all eligible individuals were interviewed. This varied between 21.8% in Greater Glasgow & Clyde to 69.8% in the Shetland Islands. The definition of a fully cooperating household changed in 2012 and is therefore not comparable with fully cooperating figures prior to this.

Table 1.2b shows the household response rate for eligible addresses in the child boost sample by Health Board. This varied from 32.2% (Lanarkshire) to 70.0% (Grampian). For most Health Boards, the figure for fully productive households matched that for at least one eligible person being interviewed and thus the range varied in the same manner (32.2% in Lanarkshire to 69.4% in Grampian). Please note the small base sizes for some health boards. 

Table 1.3a shows that across Local Authorities, the percentage of combined main sample households where at least one eligible person was interviewed ranged from 15.2% (Inverclyde) to 72.5% (Shetland Islands). Fully cooperating households varied between 13.0% (Inverclyde) and 62.5% (Shetland Islands).

Table 1.3b shows that across Local Authorities, the percentage of child boost households where at least one eligible child was interviewed ranged from 14.3% (Glasgow City) to 77.1% (Aberdeenshire). Figures were almost identical for fully cooperating households. Again, the small base sizes should be noted. In addition, a small number of Local Authorities had a higher proportion of addresses that were not covered than others.                                                         

Tables 1.1a – 1.3b

1.6.3     Individual response for adults

Overall, there were 4,591 adult responses to SHeS 2024.

The adult response rate in 2024 was calculated based on the number of eligible households. This was undertaken by dividing the number of individual adult interviews by the number of eligible adults in productive households. The total estimated number of adults from sampled addresses eligible for interview is referred to as the “set” sample. For 2024, the set sample of was 5,230.

Table 1.9 shows that the age distribution of adult respondents was generally older than the population as a whole.  For males, 56% of main respondents were aged 55 or older compared with 41% of the male population as a whole.  There were similar differences for females, with 54% of female respondents aged 55 or older compared with 42% of the female population as a whole.                                  

Tables 1.4a and 1.9

1.6.4     Individual response for children (0-15)

Interviews were undertaken with 1,986 children aged 0 to 15, with 1,156 of these taking place as part of the CHI-screened child boost.

In order to calculate the response rate for children, the number of eligible children in participating households was calculated. Tables 1.4a and 1.4b show that the overall response rate for children in the main sample and the child boost sample were similarly high (95.0% for children in the main sample and 99.6% for the child boost sample).

Tables 1.4a and b

1.6.5     Intake24 response

A total of 2,200 SHeS adult participants aged 16 and over completed at least one dietary recall, with 1,796 completing both dietary recalls (82%). Completion of at least one dietary recall generally increased with age, with 69% of those who completed any recalls aged 45 and over. Three-quarters of those who completed at least one dietary recall were in the three least deprived SIMD quintiles.       

Table 1.10

References and notes