Australia Speaks! Research Australia Opinion Polling 2016

Research Australia’s 2016 public opinion poll, Australia Speaks!, examined public priorities for government, support for the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), views on science and healthcare, willingness to share personal health data, use of activity tracking devices and the internet for health, and donation behaviour. Roy Morgan Research surveyed 1,040 Australians aged 18 and over from its proprietary online panel between 30 May and 4 June 2016 (response rate 12.8%), weighting results by age, sex and area; maximum sampling tolerance was ±3.0%. Improving hospitals and the healthcare system remained the top priority, and more funding for health and medical research was among three health items in the top 10. The MRFF was supported by 87% of respondents and 93% of those aged over 65. While 89% agreed their health had improved through research, fewer than half (47%) believed their own healthcare was based on the best and most recent research. Some 61% believed they had benefited from research using personal information, and 80% wanted ministers’ funding decisions guided by researchers. Just over one third owned an activity tracking device, and three quarters of regular users were willing to share data with researchers. Only 21% of those who saw a doctor were referred to a website, although 77% would find this helpful. Annual donors fell to 44% from 48% in 2015.