Ireland and Northern Ireland’s Population Health Observatory (INIsPHO)

Information resources to support Health Impact Assessment

Health Impact Assessment Forum, 11 November 2008

Steve BarronResearch Analyst INIsPHO

Ireland and Northern Ireland’s Population Health Observatory (INIsPHO)

• Established in 2005• Housed in the Institute of Public Health (IPH)• An all-Ireland observatory• Supports each jurisdiction while maximising

benefits of North/South working • Source of health intelligence/health

information to help decision making in health

Better intelligence…

Better decisions…

Better health…

Ireland and Northern Ireland’s Population Health Observatory (INIsPHO)

Some current work on health information

• All-Ireland electronic Health Library (AIeHL)www.aiehl.org

• Irish Health Poverty Index (iHPI)www.inispho.org/ihpi

• All-Ireland Health and Social Care Indicator Set (AIHSC)www.inispho.org/aihsc

All-Ireland electronic Health Library (AIeHL)

AIeHL concept www.aielh.org

• The AIeHL is a network of interoperable websites from across the island of Ireland

• An individual user of one website can simultaneously search all (or some of) “interoperable” websites in a single search

• Aims to make it easier for people to access the knowledge resources they require

• This increases the resources available to a user

AIeHL – Resources available

• Policy and strategy documents

• Data (quantitative and qualitative)

• Research and evaluation reports

• Details of programmes and interventions

• Contacts

• Websites

AIeHL – Current members

• HSE Irish Health Publications Archive

• Healthdata (HSE)

• IPH eLibrary

• National Documentation Centre on Drug Use (HRB)

• Wellnet (Investing for Health, Northern Ireland)

INIsPHO work on the development of local health data

The determinants of health and wellbeing

National data and local data

• Wide range of data available at national level on the broad determinants of health

• National figures can mask important differences at regional and local level

• Comprehensive data at local level on the broad determinants of health is needed to identify and address inequalities in local areas

INIsPHO development of local health data

No system for monitoring local health across the whole island

Longer term interest in: – An all-Ireland suite of local health and

wellbeing indicators – A basis of local health and wellbeing

profiles – Links to comparative European data

INIsPHO development of local health data

Adapted two existing datasets to the whole island

English Health Poverty Index (eHPI) www.hpi.org

Irish Health Poverty Index (iHPI)

Northern Ireland Health Inequalities Monitoring Systemwww.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-equality.htm

All-Ireland Health and Social Care Indicators (AIHSC)

Four parts

1. Conceptual framework

2. Data

3. Web-based visualisation tool

4. Technical documentation

Part 1 - Conceptual framework

Part 2: Data

Collated data on 82 indicators for 52 local regions across the island

Local level:– 26 Local Government Districts in the North– 26 (traditional) counties in the South

How comparable are measures from two different jurisdictions?Four categories of measures:

– All-Ireland– Separate North and South– North only – South only

Part 2 - A flavour of the information collected

Health data:– Mortality data and life expectancy– Hospital admissions– Obesity– Psychological morbidity: suicide, psychiatric admissions– Physical morbidity: benefits received for different types of physical

conditions – Low birth weight– Health and social services resourcing

Lifestyle data:– Physical activity– Smoking– Fruit and vegetable consumption– Alcohol abuse– Drug misuse

Educational data:– Educational resourcing– Pupil to teacher ratio– Educational attainment

Economic data:– GDP per capita– House prices– Change in job supply

Environmental data (social and physical):– Community stability– Perceptions of neighbours’ trustworthiness– Housing quality– Crime rates– Living alone

Part 2 - A flavour of the information collected

Part 3 - The web-based visualisation tool

Incorporated into the more flexible INIsPHO eData website (www.inispho.org/ihpi or www.inispho.org/aihsc)

Tables, maps, spider plots and other charts

An exploratory tool to look at: – Geographical variation in a single measure across the

island– Relationship between measures (at an area level)– Profiles of a single area based on multiple-measures – Geographical comparisons based on multiple measures– Changes over time (when updated)

Part 4: Documentation

• Clearly define the data; support the use of the data

• Support future development of the dataset

• Completed:– Review of policy context and data issues for each

component in the South – Review of policy context and data issues for each

component in the North– Data Briefing for AIHSC (August 2008)– Data Briefing for iHPI Interim Release (August 2008)– Metadata for both data sets

Accessing the datasets

Irish Health Poverty Index (iHPI)www.inispho.org/ihpi

All-Ireland Health and Social Care Indicator Set (AIHSC)

www.inispho.org/aihsc

All-Ireland suicide rate 2001-2004

Republic of Ireland suicide rate 2001-2004

• Highest rate of suicide is in Co Offaly 17.9/100,000 population

• Lowest suicide rate is in Co Roscommon 6.0/100,000 population

• Offaly has a slightly younger population (30% aged 15-34 years) than Roscommon (26% aged 15-34 years)

• Compare both areas on factors that may be associated with suicide

Comparison of counties in Republic of Ireland with the highest (Offaly) and lowest (Roscommon) suicide rate 2001-2004

Republic of Ireland hospital admissions for alcohol abuse 2005

Republic of Ireland hospital admissions for alcohol abuse 2005

• Highest rate of hospital admissions is in Co Roscommon: 575/100,000 EU standard population

• Lowest rate of hospital admissions is in Co Wicklow: 209/100,000 EU standard population

• Data have been adjusted for differences in the age and sex profiles of their populations

• Compare both areas on factors that may be associated with alcohol abuse

Comparison of counties in Ireland with the highest (Roscommon) and lowest (Wicklow) hospital admission rates for alcohol abuse 2005

Moving forward

We are currently combining the two datasets (iHPI and AIHSC) and expanding with census information

But we don’t want to continue past this unless we – Can support key functions– Link to other data sources – Can work with other key stakeholders

Useful but a good start at best!

An aspiration

• Core set of agreed local health and wellbeing indicators across a broad range of factors

• Collated and regularly updated across the island

• Support a range of planning, delivery and monitoring functions

• A basis of local health and well-being profiles

• Help support learning and sharing of best practice from one area to another

• Ultimately deliver support for better health – not just information!

Ireland and Northern Ireland’s Population Health Observatory (INIsPHO)

Information resources to support Health Impact Assessment

Health Impact Assessment Forum, 11 November 2008

Steve BarronResearch Analyst INIsPHO