Abstract
Background: For public health policies to be effective, it is critical that they are acceptable to the public as acceptance levels impact success rate.
Objective: To explore public acceptance of public health statements and examine differences in acceptability across socio-demographics, health behaviours (physical activity, diet, binge drinking and smoking), health status and well-being.
Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a nationally representative
sample (N = 1001) using a random stratified sampling method. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at homes of residents in Wales aged 16+ years. Individuals reported whether they agreed, had no opinion, or disagreed with 12 public health statements.
Results: More than half of the sample were supportive of 10 out of 12 statements. The three statements with the greatest support (>80% agreement) reflected the importance of: a safe and loving childhood to becoming a healthy adult, schools teaching about health, and healthier foods costing less. Individuals who engaged in unhealthy behaviours were less likely to agree with some of the statements (eg 39.8% of binge drinkers agreed alcohol adverts should be banned compared to 57.6% of those who
never binge drink; P < .001).
Conclusions: Findings show an appetite for public health policies among the majority of the public. The relationship between supporting policies and engaging in healthy behaviours suggests a feedback loop that is potentially capable of shifting both public opinion and the opportunities for policy intervention. If a nation becomes healthier, this could illicit greater support for stronger policies which could encourage more people to move in a healthier direction.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Health Expectations |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 24 Apr 2020 |
Keywords
- alcohol
- diet
- general health
- national survey
- physical activity
- policy
- public acceptance
- public health
- smoking
- well-being