Interpreting the Youth Health Survey Report

Jody Allan, Assiniboine RHA

Debbie Iverson, Central RHA

Nancy McPherson, Brandon RHA

Liliana Rodriguez, Brandon RHA

January 19, 2008

Outline Structure of the report Data – presentation and interpretation List of indicators Challenges with context Experiences working with the data General discussion

Report Structure Introduction, Demographics and Report Highlights 3 main sections

A: Physical Activity B: Healthy Eating C: Smoking, Alcohol and Drug Use

Each section: Rationale, Survey Results, How to take action

Links to Additional Resources References

Essentials Elements of Figures Title: period time of the data, place and

population group Labels: units, numerator and denominator

of rates and multiplying factors Axes and data series of graphs Column and row headings of tables

Source if data in the figure is not all original.

Graphs Used to show broader patterns in data Bar Graphs: show differences in results

between groups. Can be vertical (preferred) or horizontal (if many groups or long names)

Pie Charts: demonstrate the relative contributions of various components to the whole.

Student Age

4%

11%13%14%

18%16%15%

9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

<=11 12 13 14 15 16 17 >=18

% o

f res

pond

ents

Grade Level

8% 7% 8% 6% 8% 6% 5%

8% 7% 9% 9% 6% 6% 5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Grade6 Grade7 Grade8 Grade9 Grade10 Grade11 Grade12

% o

f res

pond

ents

M F

Physical Activity Rate

8% 6% 8% 8%12% 18% 16%24% 27% 27%

31% 32%32%26%

69% 67% 66% 65% 57% 50% 51%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Grade6 Grade7 Grade8 Grade9 Grade10 Grade11 Grade12

% o

f res

pond

ents

Inactive Moderately active Active

Parents Encouragement of Physical Activity

Strongly encourage

35%

Encourage 47%

Do not encourage

or discourage

16%

Discourage 1%

Tables Title, headings and footnotes contain all

the information needed to interpret the body of the table.

Rows usually contain the independent or explanatory factors

Columns usually contain the dependant or resultant factors

If you buy your own cigarettes, where do you buy them?

% responding

Convenience store 31%

Gas station 29%

Grocery store/supermarket 8%

Bar 8%

Restaurant/diner/cafeteria 3%

Friend or other person 23%

*Note: column may exceed 100% as students were asked to select ALL that apply.

How many of your 5 closest friends smoke

cigarettes? 

Percentage of Students Responding

Daily Smokers

Occasional Smokers

Non-smokers

0 8% 13% 14%

1 6% 20% 4%

2 12% 18% 4%

3 12% 20% 2%

4 22% 10% 1%

5 35% 16% 1%

Physical Activity Indicators Physical activity rate Physical activity rate of

active students Number of friends who

are physically active Frequency of strength

training Time of day when

physically active Number of sports offered

at school

Time spent reading and doing homework

Physical activity issues taught at school

Parents encouragement of physical activity

Parents supportive of physical activity

Recreation activity times

Healthy Eating Indicators Fruits and vegetable consumption Fruits and vegetable consumption by

gender Body weight by gender Body weight by grade level Perception of body weight by gender Perception of body weight by grade level

Smoking, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Indicators Smoking status by gender Smoking status by grade Attitude to smoke free

public places School smoking policy How many of closest

friends smoke cigarettes Family member smoking

inside the home

How students get cigarettes

Where students buy cigarettes

Plans to quit smoking Alcohol use Alcohol use by grade (9

to 12) Illegal drug use by grade

(9 to 12) School connectedness

Overall Feelings of Well-being Indicators Athletic ability School work Feeling of hopelessness

Challenges with Context Regional Health Authority boundaries School Division and DSFM boundaries Federal jurisdictions Colonies Sector specific planning District level analysis and planning Communication

Rolling River School Division

Oak River Douglas

Forrest Elementary

Rivers

Brandon School Division

Meadows

Valleyview

New Era

Alexander

Rapid City

Intersectoral Overlap

Assiniboine RHA

South Eastman RHA

Interlake RHA

SEVEN OAKS

SEINE RIVER

Central RHA