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Knowledge, Attitudes and Motivations to health, 2010 (external link)
This report presents findings from the Knowledge, Attitudes and Motivations to health (KAM) module included in the 2008 and 2009 Scottish Health Survey (SHeS).

The KAM module is the successor to the Health Education Population Survey, which ran in two waves annually between 1996 and 2007 (with the exception of three waves which were suspended in 1999-2000). It was intended to monitor progress in the process of achieving change in health behaviours through a health education approach.

The KAM module is embedded in Scottish Health Survey so can draw on a much wider pool of information about health-related behaviours, experiences and characteristics, expanding the possibility for analysis and for a robust examination of the links between knowledge, attitudes, motivations and actual behaviour.

Know, feel, do? Health behaviour change in Scotland, 1996 to 2007 (external link)This report provides a high-level assessment of change in adult health behaviours, knowledge and motivations in Scotland between 1996 and 2007. A 12-year span of consistent, comparable data from the Health Education Population Survey (HEPS) is used to examine trends across three main health topics: smoking, physical activity and healthy eating. Summary health scores, which combine the three topics for behaviour, for knowledge and for motivation, are also analysed. We conclude that there was welcome modest improvement in health behaviour, knowledge and motivation in Scotland between 1996 and 2007.

What is known about maternal and infant nutrition in Scotland?This review describes what is known about maternal and infant nutrition in Scotland, using routine data sources wherever possible, to inform the Scottish Government’s development of a strategy to improve maternal and infant nutrition. It also describes the main patterns and trends in maternal and infant nutrition.

Diversity Report
This report provides a concise overview of Scotland’s population diversity. It collates and interprets existing data to give a portrait of diversity in the Scottish population in one accessible resource. The most important, recurring, theme for health improvement is the damage done to mental health and wellbeing by the pervasive and insidious effects of personal prejudice, collective discrimination and structural exclusion.

Are people in Scotland becoming more active? Combined results from Scotland’s routine national surveys
This report provides an assessment of long term trends (1995-2006) in compliance with the recommendations for physical activity amongst adults aged 16-64 in Scotland. Combining data from the Scottish Health Survey and the Health Education Population Survey, it shows a modest rise in the proportion of men and women doing enough physical activity for their health. The report also describes inequalities in compliance with the recommendations by gender, age and deprivation. It concludes with recommendations for future survey-based monitoring of physical activity in Scotland.

Mental health in Scotland 2009 (external link) is the first comprehensive review of mental health status and context using the indicators developed by NHS Health Scotland. It shows much stability and more improvement than deterioration over the past decade. Substantial inequality is evident by age, sex and deprivation/socio-economic status. Click here for further information on the Mental Health Indicators Programme.

A report on Young Adult Tobacco Smoking shows that prevalence has not decreased sustainably since 1999, that half of young adult smokers are in employment, and that some smaller population groups have very high prevalence rates.