Time to Talk Public Health: May 2024 Survey Findings

Time to Talk Public Health: May 2024 Survey Findings 

SPACE
Time to Talk Public Health is a nationally representative panel of residents across Wales established by Public Health Wales to enable regular public engagement to inform public health policy and practice. The May survey had a focus on health protection with the public being asked about: carbon monoxide, vaccines, infections and health stigma.
SPACE
Our latest TTPH report published today, with findings from 1,243 panel members, can be found here (opens in new window).

Key findings include:
SPACE
Carbon monoxide 

  • Most people perceive themselves to be knowledgeable about  carbon monoxide poisoning (13% very; 59% fairly).
  • 77% of people said they have a carbon monoxide alarm in their  home, of whom 30% said they checked their alarm at least  monthly. This equates to only 22% of all people having a  carbon monoxide alarm that is regularly checked.
  • 84% of people reported knowing that carbon monoxide is  made when we burn wood, oil, gas, and charcoal for heating  and cooking.
  • Of five main symptoms, breathlessness was the least known  (66% knew this symptom).

Health stigma 

  • 54% of people said they have delayed going to see a  healthcare professional about a health concern in the last two years.
  • Of those who reported delaying seeing a healthcare  professional, the top three reasons why were:
  • It was too difficult to get an appointment (38%)
  • They did not want to burden the NHS (19%)
  • They did not think they would be taken seriously (17%)

Infections 

  • More people reported being more knowledgeable about gonorrhoea (5% very; 28% fairly) and HPV (5% very; 28% fairly)  than of Mpox (3% very; 13% fairly).
  • People were asked which of six conditions they knew the HPV  vaccine could protect against. 51% of people reported knowing none.
  • If people thought they had a sexually transmitted infection, the most common action they would take was to contact a sexual health clinic (67%). However, if they thought they had the Mpox virus, they would most commonly contact a GP surgery (69%).

Vaccines

  • 43% of people said they had heard of the respiratory syncytial  virus (RSV).
  • If offered an RSV vaccine, 44% would accept it, 40% would need more information to decide, and 14% would not accept it.
  • People were asked to select three preferred appointment times if they were offered a vaccine. The most selected appointment slots were in the morning, on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

To learn more about Time to Talk Public Health, visit the project webpage

Please do not hesitate to contact the project lead Dr Catherine Sharp if you would like further information.

We welcome correspondence in Welsh.  We will respond in Welsh without delay.