ACT Women Centre for Health Matters focus on Health Information

The Preliminary Findings of the Women’s Centre for Health Matters 2009 survey on Women’s Health Information have been released (24.9.09). The survey was conducted both online and paper, and aimed to find out HOW and WHERE ACT women look for information about their health and wellbeing. Over 600 responses have been received, and it is expected that this figure will rise to 700 by the end of the survey period, making up 0.4% of ACT women.

The respondents were not drawn by random sampling, and close to 30% reported having a disability, or long term/Chronic health condition. WWDACT thanks the WCHM for enabling us to be over-represented instead of over-looked. Access to health information and treatment, in addition to disability information/treatment is of major concern and importance to achieve our best possible holistic outcomes.

Most women sought out information for themselves, via GPs and the internet. It could be that women with disabilities who responded are comfortable ICT users, and that in discussion with the WCHM, focus groups with non-internet WWDACT constituents could be held. Women’s confidence in the information they received showed that over 70% viewed the GP as trustworthy, whilst only 30% had similar confidence in the Emergency Department. A high percentage of respondents (54.4%) said that they considered accessibility issues when seeking information. More details on this aspect of the survey will be useful for women with disabilities.

WWDACT will work with the WCHM for comparative data between respondents with disabilities and the non-disabled to identify any particular anomalies which need targetted policies.