Scottish Health Survey (SHeS)

The main topics included in the survey are:
1) general health, long-term conditions & chronic pain
2) mental wellbeing, loneliness & stress at work
3) cardiovascular disease and use of services
4) asthma, respiratory & COVID-19
5) diet, vitamin supplements & food insecurity
6) alcohol, smoking, drugs & gambling
7) physical activity
8) dental health and services
9) biological measurements (including Body Mass Index) & prescribed medicines
10) accidents & CPR training
11) Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) & parental history
12) unpaid caring
Not all topics are included in the survey every year.

Data from the 1998, 2003 and 2008 to 2020 Scottish Health Surveys has now been linked to health record data on:

1. visits to hospital and length of stay
2. diagnosis, treatments and hospital stays for cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and psychiatric episodes
3. if the respondent has passed away, the date and cause of death
4. COVID-19 positive test results and vaccinations

Access is via a short application to be assessed by the PHS Data Protection Team.

A full list of the variables included in the linked datasets is available on request.

Any study requiring additional health record or Scottish Health Survey variables not included in the standard linked datasets will require an application to the relevant Public Benefit and Privacy Panel.