(1) 10% of those age 15 and older considered themselves unhealthy. Among those 15 and older, 48.80% considered themselves healthy, 41.19% fairly healthy, and 10.01% unhealthy for the past three months. 15% of those considered themselves unhealthy require assistance in their daily lives.
(2) The frequency of seeking medical care has a positive correlation with age. Among those 15 and older, 42.32% didn’t seek medical care while 57.68% did in the past three months. Most of those surveyed sought medical care less than 5 times. More females sought medical care than their male counterparts. Regardless of gender, the frequency of seeking medical care was higher as age increased.
(3) The frequency of checking blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar was higher as age increased. Among those 15 and older, 49.78% had their blood pressure checked in the past year; 47.46% of which male and 52.11% female. 27.43% had their cholesterol checked in the past year prior the survey with roughly equal number of males and females. 26.49% had their blood sugar checked in the past year prior the survey with roughly equal number of males and females. The frequency of having the above-mentioned shows a positive correlation with age.
(4) Public awareness of breast examination and cervical smear test needs to be heightened Among those 15 and older, only 37.52% of females have ever examined their breasts. Only 5.59% examined their breasts 12 times or more in the past year prior to the survey. 23.92% of females had their breasts examined by their doctors and most women had their breasts examined by doctors only once in the past three years prior to the surve. Only 41.38% of females have ever taken cervical smear tests.
2. Lifestyle
(1) 40% 15 and older exercised regularly. 39.10% of those 15 and older exercised regularly in the past three months prior to the survey. Most of them exercised 1-2 times per week, 16-30 minutes each time. 48.29% of those 65 and older exercised regularly; 45.51% of those 55-64; 43.01% of those 15-24.
(2) 23% of the sample participants age15 and older smoked. 70.19% of those 15 and older have never smoked; 6.72% have quit and 23.09% were still smoking. Most smokers smoked 0.5-1 pack a day. 42.55% of males smoked, far higher than 3.44% of females who did.
(3) About 6% those 15 and older chewed betel nuts. 87.10% of those 15 and older have never chewed betel nuts; 6.96% have stopped and 5.94% were still chewing. Most of them chewed 5 or fewer per day on average. 11.04% of males were betel nuts chewers while the percentage was only 0.79% for females.
(4) 65% 15 and older went to bed between 10-12 p.m. 65.09% of those 15 and older went to bed between 10-12 p.m.; no noticeable difference exists between genders. Most of those 65 and older go to bed between 8-10 p.m. while other age groups went to bed between 10-12 p.m.
3. Self-evaluation of sleeping quality
(1) Over 10% 15 and older rated their sleeping quality less than ideal. The 13 questions of “The Insomnia Self Evaluation Form” recommended in the “World Project on Sleep and Health,” a WHO sponsored project, were used to conduct this survey. The targets of the survey were those 15 and older. They were asked to rate their sleeping quality subjectively. The results show that over 10% rated their sleeping quality as poor. For those who considered their sleeping quality poor, 11.10% considered “they woke up too early in the morning,” followed by “feeling unrefreshed after waking up” (10.75%), “still feel tired after waking up” (10.64%), and “need alcohol to help sleep” (1.53%).
(2) The age group 15-24 had better sleeping quality, but they had trouble getting up in the morning. Of the 13 questions, the 15-24 age group was least likely to answer 10 questions with “poor” while those 65 and older gave highest number of “poor” in 10 questions. Nevertheless, the 15-34 age group still had sleep problems. According to the survey, they tended to have trouble getting up in the morning or still felt tired after waking up. Those 55 and older did not show the tendency.
(3) Widows and those who did not work by day were more likely to suffer from sleep disorders. With regard to marital status, widows were more likely to suffer from sleep disorders (34.18%). Those who are unmarried, divorced, or separated were the least likely (16.04%). Those who worked by day were less likely to suffer from sleep disorders than those who did not (those who worked by night, in shifts, and both day and night). According to data collected over the past three months, those who frequently or always “feel unrefreshed after waking up”, “still feel tired after waking up” and “feel tired by day after wakeup” were more likely to run into accidents.
4. Habits of seeking medical care and sources of healthcare information
(1) Seeing a doctor was what most people did first when not feeling well. When not feeling well, the majority of the sample participants age 15 and older would see a doctor first (66.59%); 19.21% rested more while 10% bought non-prescription drugs. Only less than 1% sought alternative medication, indicating people had correct medical knowledge.
(2) Television as the main source of health care information. Television was the main source of health care information for the sample participants age 15 and older (41.24%). The second and the third most important sources were friends and relatives (21.66%) and newspapers (18.27%). The results show that TV programs provided a variety of health information. As age increased, more people obtained healthcare information from radio. On the other hand, as age decreased, they were more likely to get information from books and the Internet.
(3) High skilled medical staff was the main consideration for choosing hospitals or clinics. 37.85% 15 and older chose hospitals/clinics or doctors based on medical skills, followed by the distance from their homes (27.75%) and hospital equipment (14.24%). The main consideration for choosing doctors was their medical skills (42.82%), followed by their specialties (16.77%).
5. Accidents survey
(1) Teenagers, the elderly, and the handicapped were most likely to run into accidents. 3.74% 15 and older sought medical treatment as a result of accidents in the past three months. Those 65 and older had the highest rate of running into accidents, followed by the 15-24 age group. Also, the handicapped were more likely to run into accidents than others.
(2) Traffic accident was the most common form of accident. In the past three months (July-September 2001), the most common type of accident for the sample participants age 15 and older was traffic accident (1.97%), followed by falling down (1.28%). Those 15-24 were most likely to run into traffic accidents while those 65 and older were most likely to fall down accidentally. Most accident sufferers seek medical attention by going to traditional doctors, doctors, chiropractors, or going to the emergency room without being hospitalized.
(3) Peak hours were the period when traffic accidents most likely occurred. In the past three months, traffic accidents occurred to the sample participants age 15 and older most often between 3-6 p.m. (22.54%), followed by the 6-9 a.m. time period (18.22%). These two periods were the peak hours of a day, accounting for 40.76% of all traffic accidents.
Directorate General of Budget Accounting and Statistics, Executive Yuan, R.O.C
