Hamilton County public health workers are making a final push to get more responses to the anonymous online survey they will use to help inform policy and priorities in the coming years.
As of Monday, the county’s public health survey — which opened in early April — had 2,917 responses, according to data shared during a Regional Health Council Meeting.
The groups behind the survey, which is conducted in partnership with the Hamilton County Health Department and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, say they want to see more people between the ages of 18 and 24, men and Hispanic residents complete the survey.
Of the responses so far, 84 have come from the 18-24 age range and 98 respondents have come from Hispanic community members. Nearly 800 more women than men have completed the survey, according to the data.
Health Department staffer Maegan Kerr said during Monday’s meeting that initially the goal was to get about 3,000 responses. However, staff will continue to conduct outreach to get a sample as representative as possible based on the county’s demographics, with the goal to close the survey by the end of the month.
So far, the Health Department and UTC have sent mailers, promoted the survey on social media, hosted survey events and partnered with local businesses and agencies to better reach certain demographics, Kerr said. Staff have also canvassed door-to-door in the ZIP codes with low response rates.
Contributed photo / Ivana Henderson, left, and Alicia Rios help a resident complete the public health survey in the pick-up line at Clifton Hills Elementary.Ezequiel Garcia, a member of the Health Department’s community outreach and communications teams, said during the meeting that community partners mentioned that many members of Hamilton County’s Spanish-speaking community wanted to take the survey but had issues with the technology or language barriers.
As a result, the groups worked to raise awareness about the survery among local restaurants and made an effort to reach parents while waiting in lines to pick up children at school or in the waiting rooms of certain medical clinics.
“They were very appreciative that their opinion was being heard and taken into consideration,” Garcia said.
The 35-question survey covers health topics including weekly physical activity, food and health care access, substance use, mental health, chronic disease and other community concerns. With the exception of an optional comment section at the end, the questions are all multiple choice.
The survey is available in English or Spanish and can be completed online through the Health Department’s website or on a mobile device by scanning a QR code found on promotional material.
All Hamilton County residents ages 18 and up, including college students and people living in the same household, are encouraged to complete the survey.
Results will be published in the 2023/2024 “Picture of Our Health” report, which is expected to come out later this year or early next year.
The report is produced every four years in partnership with the Hamilton County Regional Health Council. It serves as a resource for not only the Health Department and health council but also any local organization working to address public health issues.
The upcoming report will be the first to incorporate a survey component, which is an effort to better understand how the community’s needs have changed in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Contact Elizabeth Fite at efite@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6673.
Contributed photo / Esther Obi of the Hamilton County Health Department helps a resident of Mary Walker Towers complete the public health survey.