Residents urged to take part in ‘robust’ health study
Record low results for an island health check have pushed government health leaders to urge the public to participate.
The Steps to a Well Bermuda survey, designed to renew Bermuda’s health data, received fewer than 400 participants in a year — despite needing 1,550 to be effective.
Shaun Ramroop, the Chief Medical Officer, told the public that co-operation was crucial for determining good health measures.
He added: “Steps is not just a survey — it is one of the most robust and internationally recognised tools for collecting population health data.
“It allows us to better understand the behaviours, risks and trends that influence chronic diseases in Bermuda.
“The data we gather will shape how we prevent illness, how we promote wellness and how we plan for future care needs.”
The Steps survey, conducted with the help of the Pan American Health Organisation, randomly selects people aged 18 and older to complete a health questionnaire.
They get their height, weight, blood pressure and waist circumference measured after the survey.
Participants also have the option to get their fasting blood glucose levels and cholesterol levels checked through a stick test.
The Ministry of Health set a goal of 2,500 participants since the latest survey started last July.
Today, Dr Ramroop admitted that the participation rates were well below what had been hoped.
He explained that people historically have been apprehensive about offering their health information.
Dr Ramroop added that many residents in other participating countries have shown “exhaustion” around discussing their health, owing in no small part to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Chief Medical Officer said the rise in Covid-19 cases was not a “red flag” — but still cause for concern.
Shaun Ramroop said that the Government had anticipated the rise in cases, which was warned about on Sunday.
He explained: “In the past three weeks, what we have found is that the number of cases we would have gotten in three to four weeks, we are now getting in one to two weeks.
“When we look at the trends, this is what we expect for this time of year when there is an increased level of travel, increased awareness and people being reminded by the Department of Health that they should be looking out for the signs and symptoms of Covid-19.”
Dr Ramroop said the heightened cases of Covid-19 might not necessarily reflect a higher rate of infection, but a higher rate of testing.
He said that samples had been taken to determine the dominant strain of Covid-19.
Dr Ramroop said that he did not know the exact number of infections, but that the information would be released at a later date.
He added that this data could only be determined if people continued testing.
Fresh stocks of an updated Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, designed to target the JN.1 variant of the virus circulating globally, arrived in Bermuda last month.
Dr Ramroop confirmed that updated vaccine doses were available at the Hamilton Health Centre and doctor’s offices “for those who need them”.
He urged doctors to talk to their patients about their eligibility to receive the vaccine boosters.
He said the ministry was “trying to address” these problems, adding that they hoped to strengthen public confidence in the process.
Dr Ramroop said: “The process is reproducible, it’s statistically significant and it’s been used around the world.
“What has been happening worldwide is that people have been having difficulty completing these surveys. Hence the reason we have been trying to reconnect and give some reassurance to the public that we are really, really trying to finish this.”
The previous Steps survey was conducted in 2014 and set the stage for many of Bermuda’s existing health policies. That campaign involved 1,200 participants.
The Steps survey is anticipated to take another three years to complete — a time frame that Dr Ramroop said was long enough to reach the minimum threshold of participants.
Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, reminded the public that the Steps survey was “a vital opportunity to directly influence the future of health in Bermuda”.
She added that “what gets measured gets managed”.
Ms Wilson said: “It helps us to track the real-world factors that influence the risk of chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer.”
She added: “If selected, we encourage you to please say yes.
“Participation is entirely voluntary and confidential, but it is also extremely powerful.
“When someone knocks on your door and invites you to take part, know that this is more than just a survey — it’s a chance to be a part of a health movement.”
All information collected will be kept confidential and anonymous, but participants can share their results with healthcare providers.
• To learn more about the Steps survey, visit www.gov.bm/steps-bermuda
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