The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is advising residents that they may receive a phone call inviting them to take part in a short public health survey aimed at improving programs and services across the region.
The survey, known as the Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS), is an ongoing telephone survey of adults aged 18 and older living in areas served by participating health units. Locally, the survey is conducted by the Institute for Social Research at York University on behalf of SMDHU. It collects information on health behaviours, knowledge, attitudes and awareness related to topics such as tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use, vaccinations, climate change, food insecurity, and other public health issues.
Participation in the survey is voluntary and takes roughly 10 minutes to complete. Residents who are contacted can arrange a callback at a more convenient time if needed. According to the health unit, the information gathered through RRFSS helps guide planning, supports disease prevention efforts, and informs health promotion initiatives across Simcoe Muskoka.
SMDHU notes that privacy protections are in place. Phone numbers, including both landlines and cell phones, are randomly selected, and no personally identifying information such as names, addresses, or phone numbers is collected. Interviewers will not ask for health card numbers or any financial information, and responses are analyzed only in aggregate form.
For more information about the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, click here.
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