Health & Medical Research Public Opinion Poll 2006

Research Australia’s fifth annual Health & Medical Research Public Opinion Poll, conducted by Crosby|Textor and supported by the MBF Foundation, combined two focus groups held in August 2006 with an online survey of an effective sample of 567 adults aged 18 and older, fielded between 22 and 29 September 2006 with quotas on gender, age and area. Improving hospitals and the health care system was the top-rated federal government priority (93%), and 82% rated more research funding for health and medical research as important. Eighty-one per cent approved of the increase in NHMRC funding announced in the 2006 Budget, and 90% agreed that health and medical research is an industry important to Australia’s future, up from 86% in 2005. Eighty per cent agreed the Federal Government should focus more on innovative industries such as health and medical technologies and research, 89% agreed new discoveries benefit both health and the economy, and 72% supported more tax incentives for emerging health and biotechnology companies. On stem cell research, 74% supported continued use of excess donated IVF embryos and 58% supported therapeutic cloning. Eighty-seven per cent agreed more could be done in preventative health care and 78% approved of mandatory fitness testing for school children to address obesity. The report also covers health information needs and sources, with 92% finding the Internet useful, and self-reported awareness of healthy behaviours.