What Do Australians Think About Health & Medical Research? 2013 Opinion Poll

Research Australia’s 2013 public opinion poll explored public priorities for government, the perceived value of different types of health and medical research, support for a tax on high-sugar or high-fat foods, willingness to allow health records to be used for research, and donation behaviour. Enterprise Marketing and Research Services (EMRS) surveyed 1,000 Australian residents aged 18 years and over through an online panel in June 2013, using quotas for age, gender and location and weighting to the 2011 ABS census. Improving hospitals and the healthcare system remained the top priority (88% rating it 7 or more out of 10); more funding for health and medical research was rated 7 or more by 80% and ranked equal 6th of 25 issues, three places higher than in 2012. Some 82% considered a strong research industry extremely or very important, and 59% saw research as part of the solution to rising healthcare costs. A tax on foods high in sugar or fat drew 53% support if revenue funded harm-reduction programs, falling to 46% without that commitment. Nearly 80% were happy for their health records to be used for research. Annual donors to health and medical research fell to 43% from 51% in 2012, 54% of annual donors claimed a tax deduction, and 47% felt they should donate more.