Health and Medical Research Public Opinion Poll 2003: Final results

This confidential results paper presents Research Australia’s 2003 health and medical research public opinion poll. It was provided to the Investment Review of Health and Medical Research ahead of the poll’s planned public release in February 2004. ACNielsen surveyed 689 adults aged 18 and older through its Telephone Omnibus on 28–30 November 2003, using a half sample because of budget restrictions. Data were weighted to the Australian population, with a maximum margin of error of ±3.7 percentage points. Interest in health and medical research rose slightly from 2002, with 88% interested and 32% very interested. Eighty-eight per cent agreed Australians should have access to the latest medicines, devices and treatments even if this meant higher taxes or redirected spending. Eighty per cent said research had made a difference to their lives, and 85% supported federal investment addressing global, not just Australian, health problems. Health and medical research was rated important for government funding by 96%, behind hospitals and health care (99%). Eighty-seven per cent thought more than the current 1–2 cents in each health care dollar should go to health-related research. Eighty-eight per cent were willing to pay $1 more per prescription medicine for research, up from 84% in 2002. Health and medical research ranked first for corporate donations (93% important) and second for individual donations (87%), while 78% felt greater researcher collaboration would improve outcomes a lot.