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

1. Ireland and Northern Ireland’s Population Health Observatory (INIsPHO) Information resources to support Health Impact Assessment Health Impact Assessment Forum, 11 November 2008 Steve Barron Research Analyst INIsPHO

2. 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

3. Ireland and Northern Ireland’s Population Health Observatory (INIsPHO) • Better intelligence… • Better decisions… • Better health…

4. 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

5. All-Ireland electronic Health Library (AIeHL)

6. 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

7. AIeHL – Resources available • Policy and strategy documents • Data (quantitative and qualitative) • Research and evaluation reports • Details of programmes and interventions • Contacts • Websites

8. 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)

11. INIsPHO work on the development of local health data

12. The determinants of health and wellbeing

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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 System • www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-equality.htm • All-Ireland Health and Social Care Indicators (AIHSC)

16. Four parts • Conceptual framework • Data • Web-based visualisation tool • Technical documentation

17. Part 1 - Conceptual framework

18. 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

19. 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

20. Part 2 - A flavour of the information collected • 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

21. 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)

22. 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

23. 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

24. All-Ireland suicide rate 2001-2004

25. 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

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

27. Republic of Ireland hospital admissions for alcohol abuse 2005

28. 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

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

30. Moving forward

31. Useful but a good start at best! • 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

32. 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!

33. Ireland and Northern Ireland’s Population Health Observatory (INIsPHO) Information resources to support Health Impact Assessment Health Impact Assessment Forum, 11 November 2008 Steve Barron Research Analyst INIsPHO