Preliminary findingsSunshine Coast Community Dialogues 2014

Roberts Creek, October 16th

Maritia Gully, Regional Epidemiologist

Public Health Surveillance Unit, Vancouver Coastal Health email: phsu@vch.ca

Built environment

Getting to work or school

ModeSunshine

CoastCoastal Rural

VCH

Car (driver) 80% 73% 42%

Public transit 5% 6% 34%

Walk or bike 11% 17% 20%

Running errands

ModeSunshine

CoastCoastal Rural

VCH

Car (driver) 86% 81% 51%

Public transit 2% 3% 14%

Walk or bike 9% 12% 28%

Neighbourhood Characteristics

There are special lanes, separate paths or trails or shared use paths for cyclists and pedestrians in or near my neighbourhood

There are sidewalks in my neighbourhood that are well maintained (paved, with few cracks) and not obstructed

Many shops, restaurants, services and facilities are within walking distance of my home

A large selection of fruits and vegetables is available in my neighbourhood

There are many attractive natural sites in my neighbourhood (such as landscaping, views or parks)

There is so much traffic along the street I live on that it makes it difficult or unpleasant to walk in my neighbourhood

I feel safe walking alone in my neighbourhood after dark

I see a lot of people walking and biking in my neighbourhood

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Sunshine Coast

Coastal Rural

VCH

Community resiliency

Community belonging

Sunshine Coast

Coastal Rural

VCH

Very strong 23% 25% 15%

Somewhat strong 49% 49% 42%

Somewhat weak 20% 20% 30%

Very weak 7% 6% 14%

Emergency preparedness

Have you set aside any emergency preparedness

supplies?

Sunshine Coast

Coastal Rural

VCH

>3 days 25% 22% 14%

Approx 3 days 17% 13% 12%

1-2 days 14% 13% 17%

None 44% 53% 57%

Food securityWhich best describes the

food eaten in your household in the past 12 months?

Sunshine Coast

Coastal Rural

VCH

Always had enough 76% 73% 63%

Had enough, but not always the kind you wanted

21% 22% 29%

Sometimes not enough 2% 4% 6%

Often not enough 1% 1% 2%

Taking a closer look at specific SC populations

• Parents of children 18 years and under

• First Nations population*• Recent immigrants*• Seniors living alone• Residents who rent their homes

*Insufficient sample to report on

Measure Parents Renters SC overall

Self-rated health (exc/vg) 56% 45% 57%

Self-rated mental health (exc/vg) 60% 57% 66%

Emergency preparedness 3+ days 29% 25% 42%

Sense of community belonging (very/somewhat strong)

77% 62% 73%

Physical wellness score 10+ 32% 42% 43%

Differences across SC sub-populations

MeasureSeniors living

aloneSeniors overall

Self-rated health (exc/vg) 42% 56%

Self-rated mental health (exc/vg) 58% 72%

1+ chronic conditions 75% 70%

Regular family doctor 91% 94%

Emergency preparedness 3+ days 50% 54%

Sense of community belonging (very/somewhat strong)

74% 79%

Physical wellness score 10+ 37% 49%

More vulnerable SC residents?

Summary• Overall Sunshine Coast residents

appear to be doing similar to, if not better than, VCH overall on healthy lifestyle factors

• However…– Obesity higher– Chronic disease rates higher– At a disadvantage re: active transportation– Certain populations doing better/worse

Next steps• Final weighting/analysis

– Community profiles for Sunshine Coast Communities (early 2015)

• Further sub-analyses (if sample size permits)• Partnerships and collaboration

– Getting data into the right hands to inform:• Healthy change!• Policy• Programs• Advocacy…

Thank you!

Jat Sandhu (Principal Investigator)

Paul Martiquet (Medical Health Officer, Coastal Rural VCH)

Eleni Kefalas (Analysis)

Susan Hendricks (Administrative and outreach support)

Pamela Richmond (MHMC Outreach)

Sunshine Coast Community Foundation

…and to all who participated!