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respondents, such as complaints about litter on waste
land, and inadequate housing.
Matters most often mentioned were more research on
cancer, tuberculosis, etc., the provision of more hospitals,
and the modernisation of existing ones. More health
instruction in schools and improvements in housing and
living conditions were also frequent pleas.
Summary
Although the number of questionnaires returned is
comparatively small, those that were returned were
completed carefully in a manner which showed evidence of
interest and enthusiasm.
The findings direct attention again to the health
education of children and young people, who, it is
gratifying to observe, welcome it themselves. This was
exemplified at a secondary modern school where, subsequent
to this enquiry, talks were given to the pupils and an
exhibit on Clean Air was placed in a central position in
the entrance hall and left for three days. Two weeks
afterwards, the Headmaster, using the public address
system without warning, posed five questions, covering
the salient points, to the whole school (over 1,500
pupils ranging from eleven to eighteen years.). An
analysis of the answers indicated the intelligent interest
shown in the subject the knowledge thus acquired will
undoubtedly find its way back to many of the pupils homes.
The popularity of television as a health educational
medium cannot be overlooked; it must surely serve as a
guide to future activities in health promotion. It is
significant also that there is a strong feeling that more
money should be spent, and that health matters should be
placed before the public in a manner which will compete
with commercial advertising.
The enthusiasm for programmes on poliomyelitis
demonstrates the undue public interest in this as compared
with other diseases, for example, only a very few
respondents mentioned diphtheria immunisation and B.C.G.
vaccination for tuberculosis. As was expected, posters
and pamphlets are not regarded as a good health educational
medium.