Jane L Hopton

Housing conditions and mental health in a disadvantaged area in Scotland.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the mental health impact of different aspects of poor housing. DESIGN: This was a post hoc analysis of data from a household interview survey. SETTING: A public sector housing estate on the outskirts of Glasgow. SUBJECTS: These comprised 114 men and 333 women aged between 17 and 65 from 451 households. MEASURES: Dependent variable: scoring > or = 5 on the 30 item general health questionnaire (GHQ30). Independent variables: self reported data on household composition, whether ill health was a factor in the move to the current dwelling, length of time at address, household income, whether the respondent was employed, chronic illness, and 6 problems with the dwelling. RESULTS: Reporting a problem with dampness was significantly and independently associated with scores of > or = 5 on the GHQ30 after controlling for possible confounding variables. CONCLUSION: Initiatives to tackle housing dampness may be important in developing a strategy to improve mental health for the study area. More research on the mental health impact of different aspects of poor housing is required.

The health effects of improvements to housing: A longitudinal study

Abstract Although housing conditions were an integral part of the emergence of the Public Health movement, there has been relatively little research on the relationship between housing and health compared to that on social inequalities in general. This is surprising in view of the fact that one of the major links between social inequalities and health is adverse housing conditions. Findings from previous investigations in several countries of the presence of damp and mould in housing and symptoms in the occupants have indicated that the associations may well be causal. However, there have been no studies which have assessed the health of the residents before and after the elimination of dampness/mould. This paper describes a longitudinal study designed to evaluate the effects of an improved heating system on the symptoms of children living on a peripheral housing estate. The results suggested that the elimination of dampness/mould prevented a further deterioration in health rather than bringing about an i...

Need and demand for primary health care: a comparative survey approach

Abstract Objective: To develop general practice profiles of needs and demand for primary health care. Design: Postal survey of a stratified random sample of 3478 people registered with five general practices. Data from a single practice were compared with data from the remaining four to identify areas of comparative need. Setting: Five general practices in Lothian. Main outcome measures: Differences between the single practice and the comparison practices in terms of social and economic circumstances, limiting long term illness, specific ongoing conditions, minor illness or symptoms, psychosocial problems, discussion of lifestyle, associated use of services. Results: Respondents from the single practice reported higher rates than those in the four comparison practices of ongoing mental health and respiratory problems and use of antidepressants, tranquillisers, or sleeping tablets. Although rates of limiting long term illness and other specific ongoing conditions were comparable, the rates of minor illness or symptoms and psychosocial difficulties were higher in the single practice. Respondents from the single practice were more likely to consult frequently, to have contacted the practice out of normal working hours, and to have discussed psychosocial difficulties with a general practitioner. For any specific ongoing condition or “minor” illness, respondents from the single practice were no more likely to consult. Conclusions: A comparative survey approach is a useful method of developing an understanding of patterns of need and demand among general practice populations. It has the potential to inform planning within individual general practices and the process of commissioning among general practices within a given area. Key messages Key messages Patient surveys overcome important limitations of assessments of need based on the views of health professionals or routine data Surveys can inform planning and development within specific practice populations A comparative perspective is essential in the context of locality commissioning and resource redistribution