Areas taking part in the Merseyside study include Sefton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Halton and St Helens, and Wirral
Scientists from the University are investigating issues that impact on the health and wellbeing of those living in UK cities and towns as part of a £3 million international project to improve health services across Europe.
More than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas and each city has its own particular social and economic problems, such as overcrowding, unemployment and disease. Data on these issues are not currently comparable across Europe, which can make it difficult for researchers to understand fully the problems that some areas face and the health policies needed to address them.
The new study, funded by the European Commission, will produce a methodology for collecting and analysing urban health data that will be replicated across Europe to ensure best practice in health care and information services. Researchers are working with Merseyside schools and residents in completing surveys on health and lifestyle to coincide with the same work taking place across Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow.
Dr Dan Pope, from the Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, said: “To fully understand how health services can be improved we need data on urban areas that can be compared to best practice across Europe. We need reliable health indicators that can be used to target cities that could benefit from additional financial support. We are asking adults and children to contribute to a survey that will help us collect data on education, employment, environment and health issues, such as stress, long-term physical illness and risk factors for diseases.”