Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (formerly known as the ONS Opinions Survey or Omnibus) is an omnibus survey that began in 1990, collecting data on a range of subjects commissioned by both the ONS internally and external clients (limited to other government departments, charities, non-profit organisations and academia).Data are collected from one individual aged 16 or over, selected from each sampled private household. Personal data include data on the individual, their family, address, household, income and education, plus responses and opinions on a variety of subjects within commissioned modules. The questionnaire collects timely data for research and policy analysis evaluation on the social impacts of recent topics of national importance, such as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the cost of living, on individuals and households in Great Britain. From April 2018 to November 2019, the design of the OPN changed from face-to-face to a mixed-mode design (online first with telephone interviewing where necessary). Mixed-mode collection allows respondents to complete the survey more flexibly and provides a more cost-effective service for customers. In March 2020, the OPN was adapted to become a weekly survey used to collect data on the social impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the lives of people of Great Britain. These data are held in the Secure Access study, SN 8635, ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, Covid-19 Module, 2020-2022: Secure Access. From August 2021, as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions were lifting across Great Britain, the OPN moved to fortnightly data collection, sampling around 5,000 households in each survey wave to ensure the survey remains sustainable. The OPN has since expanded to include questions on other topics of national importance, such as health and the cost of living. For more information about the survey and its methodology, see the ONS OPN Quality and Methodology Information webpage.Secure Access Opinions and Lifestyle Survey dataOther Secure Access OPN data cover modules run at various points from 1997-2019, on Census religion (SN 8078), cervical cancer screening (SN 8080), contact after separation (SN 8089), contraception (SN 8095), disability (SNs 8680 and 8096), general lifestyle (SN 8092), illness and activity (SN 8094), and non-resident parental contact (SN 8093). See Opinions and Lifestyle Survey: Secure Access for details.
Main Topics:Each month's questionnaire consists of two elements: core questions, covering demographic information, are asked each month together with non-core questions that vary from month to month.
The non-core questions for this month were: Condom Use (Module 6): awareness of publicity about AIDS; the use of condoms amongst the sexually active and its relation to publicity about HIV and AIDS. Food Safety (Module 19): frequency of dining out; frequency and consumption of take-away meals and food; attitude to risks of food poisoning from certain food outlets; knowledge of possible dangers of eating certain foods or not preparing foods properly; ownership and use of refrigerator and freezer, awareness of optimum temperature for refrigerator and how often temperature checked; knowledge of government health warnings on salmonella and listeria; awareness of food safety issues. GP Accidents (Module 78): accidents in previous three months that resulted in seeing a doctor or going to hospital; where accident happened; whether saw a GP or went straight to hospital. For accidents involving either the respondent or other household member, that resulted in a GP being seen, details of items of equipment involved in the accident were recorded. Work-related Illness (Module 122): respondents who were in full-time employment, or had been within the past 10 years, were asked questions concerning the following: physical working conditions; workloads; exposure to harmful substances or fumes; exposure to noise; threats of, or exposure to, physical violence from the public. All respondents were asked questions concerning their health including: chest or respiratory complaints; heart disease; breathing difficulties; smoking habits; asthma; hay fever; hearing difficulties; stress. Workplace Accidents (Module 128): accidents resulting in an injury at work or in the course of work; amount of time not able to work as a result of accident. Skin Cancer (Module 129): skin type, whether tried to get a sun tan in last 12 months; whether suffered from sunburn in last 12 months, how often, how severe and where it happened; awareness of campaign on exposure to sun; information sources on sun exposure; whether found information useful; knowledge of risk of skin cancer through exposure to sun; awareness of main ways of protection from sun.
Multi-stage stratified random sample
Face-to-face interview
