The Western Sydney health study, shopping centre survey, 1986

The aim of this descriptive study was to obtain baseline data for the western suburbs of Sydney on self-perceived health status, health related behaviours, sources of health information, and knowledge and attitudes towards health issues such as self-reported morbidity (including information on diabetes, angina, heart attack, stroke and raised blood lipids). This data set records responses to the first part of this study, a survey conducted in western suburbs shopping centres. The study was conducted in three health-service areas in the Western Metropolitan health region that show marked differences in mortality rates for several diseases. One aim of the study was to see if these differences were reflected in variations in the health knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of persons in these areas. Variables include: smoking status, alcohol status, cervical smears, breast self examination, mammography, diet practices including sugar and salt intake, attitudes to diet and exercise, sources of health information, recent health service utilisation. Background variables include: age, suburb, highest educational qualification, employment status, respondent / father / mother's country of birth, language spoken.