Time to Talk Public Health: May 2024 Survey Findings
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.
The full details from the latest report, with findings from 1,243 panel members, can be found here
Key findings include:
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.
