The USF Health Survey was poorly designed
 

In the survey, there were no significant in depth questions about the quality of foods being eaten by Villagers. This represents a huge oversight.

Also, there were no questions specifically about exercise.

In light of this, please tell me how we are going to become America's healthiest hometown?

However, there were plenty of questions about your state of mind, such as: "felt downhearted and blue?" "felt so down in the dumps nobody could cheer you up?" "felt calm and peaceful?" "been a happy person?" "been nervous?"

Based on this survey, it seems obvious that the plan is not to encourage Villagers to eat healthier foods and exercise. The plan is to be more effective in treating symptoms by whatever means. This way, there won't be any big burden on Villagers to take responsibility for maintaining their own health and well being.

I have decided NOT to participate in this survey because I'm a firm believer in living a healthy lifestyle. And a BIG part of living a healthy lifestyle includes eating healthy (non-processed) whole foods and getting at least moderate exercise.

I find it amazing that they think this survey is going to be the greatest health study of all time and that The Villages may end up being the model for the rest of the world. The healthiest places in the world, like Okinawa, are places where people live healthy lifestyles and rely very little on doctors. This survey suggests that we do the opposite; the emphasis is put on relying on doctors to achieve good health.

I'm not sure which version of the survey you had, but mine had several questions about the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed daily, especially dark, green vegetables. It also had questions about how I would respond to education regarding consuming fruits and vegetables among other things. It also asked how often I eat out, caffeine consumption, alcohol consumption, etc. And mine asked specifically about the amount of regular and cardiovascular exercise I get weekly.

I would hope before you put down an entire study, you actually get factual information about the range of the study and its intent.

Mine too.

Ummmmm, VillagesPL, we know you are a health fanatic, not everyone is tho. And we know no one is perfect. Haven't gotten our survey yet, but was in one of the focus groups and know the survey was to be designed to cover a broad spectrum of health concerns, isssues, etc....
Have you been to Okinawa? Maybe you need an extended visit there to enjoy the health benefits from living their lifestyle.

I filled out my survey which had 68 questions or so. The other two for the household had around 58 and 51.

I too remember various questions about food and a few about daily exercise and the like.

The shortest version was a lot skimpier than the other two on lifestyle. I thumbed though all three blank ones.

There were different versions of the survey? I went to the last health lecture which was all about the survey and what to expect. No mention was made of there being different versions of it.


Mine had somthing about caffeine and alcohol but none of the other things you mentioned.

I went to every USF health lecture because I was enthusiastic about the project and wanted to be as informed as I could be. I even took the time to be in one of the focus groups. You can be sure I will call or visit the USF office on monday to find out if there were different versions sent out. If I can I might try to find the questions online. (I don't have the the web address with me at this time.)

Have things gotten so bad in today's world that one who eats a healthy diet is called a fanatic? :) I'll assume you meant it as a compliment.


Could you take some notes? Let me know if there were questions about dark leafy greens and how often you went out to eat. And the total number of questions on the survey. Thanks.

No I haven't been there. There's a book on the subject. The title is: "The Okinawa Program: how the world's longest-lived people achieve everlasting health -and how you can too"

The book is the result of a long term population study that lasted over 20 years. But I think there may be an updated version of it now.

There are three version at least 68, 58, 51 questions. Also an ID number located on the front page top right.Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I just checked some notes and my survey had 58 numbered questions plus two extra that were not numbered. So your survey had a lot more than mine. Was there any reason given for doing this?

I can't imagine what the reason would be for not asking the same questions of everyone. This is not helping to change my poor opinion of the survey. I think it's really bad that they would do this without informing us of it.

You had three surveys in your household and could compare one with another. I only got one, so naturally I thought they were all the same.

I think it's weird that they didn't inform us of the different versions. Maybe they thought no one would notice? Mine had 58 numbered questions and two extra (essay type) questions. I think I will just call the office on Monday and ask about it. But I have lost my enthusiasm for survey and will very likely not send mine in. I say, "screw it!" :) After all the agravation, I don't care about it anymore. If they don't want to bother asking me about my eating habits, I won't bother sending it in.

:shocked: No questions about Smoke Alarms???

It's Nap time for BOMBERO.
 

:)No, BOMBERO, this thread is about the USF health survey. Now be a good boy and take your nap. :)

WVLG had an extensive interview with one of the people involved with the survey. She explained that there were different versions of the survey, the numbering which isn't meant to be a tracking number, etc.

If you're that interested in tearing them apart, visit the office in LSL.

Do they assume that all 85,000 Villagers have their radios on 24 hours a day? They could have explained it on the cover page that was attached to the survey. Also, they could have explained it at the last lecture which was for the purpose of explaining everything about the survey.

Tear them apart for what? It's their survey and they can do whatever they want. But that doesn't mean I have to be a lap-dog and act as though everything is okay. I'm no longer in the mood to participate in their stupid survey.

If I didn't get all of the questions that everyone else got, I still say it was a poorly designed survey. And, hey, Mallory, if it was an extensive interview on the radio, tell me why there were different versions of the survey. What was the explaination for it?

I am somewhat surprised that you didn't know that there were three versions. Dr. Peterson specifically addressed that subject at her lecture on 2/7 at Savannah. As I understood it, only pages 6 and 7 were different; pages 1-5 were supposedly standard.

Having elsewhere urged everyone to complete the survey, and not straying from my position in that regard, I must also admit that I was somewhat disappointed in certain aspects of the actual survey.

However, experience reminds me that designing a survey to be completed by as many as 87,000 people in such a way that all the respondents will be happy, or that the designers will actually be happy with the results they glean, is not only next to impossible but also probably impossible!

I will once again urge everyone to complete the survey as sent to you. I am persuaded that there will be a follow-on survey before the year is out aimed at addressing some of the "faults" in this first survey!

SWR
:beer3: