Québec Population Health Survey (QPHS)

The Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) conducts the Québec Population Health Survey (QPHS), which focuses on people 15 years of age and over living in a private household in Québec. Data collection took place in 2008 and in 2014-2015 and could subsequently occur every six years. Its geographic covering and scope differ from one cycle to the next. In 2008, the QPHS was regional in scope with the possibility of oversampling to obtain local data (local service networks [LSNs]) and it covered 16 of the 18 health regions (HRS). In 2014-2015, it was local in scope (LSNS) and one region requested oversampling to obtain data by local community service centre (CLSC) territory1 . It covered 17 or the 18 HRs, including the Cree Territory of James Bay. The QPHS replaces the surveys of the health and well-being of Quebecers conducted in 1987, 1992-1993 and 1998. The content in 2014-2015 was similar to that in 2008. The QPHS focuses on physical and mental health, lifestyle habits that affect health, perceived health status, psychological distress, injuries and musculoskeletal disorders, oral health, weight status and the use of slimming products or means, drug use, sexual behaviour and the use of contraception, and health behaviours specific to women (ISQ, 2015a).

Table 1 presents additional details on the target population, the geographical coverage and the number of respondents. Table 2 indicates the standardized instruments used in the QPHS for certain mental health indicators. Certain information is also presented in the information sheet on this survey (Study 7).

Table 2 - QPHS : standardized instruments used for certain mental health indicators and availability at the Infocentre
Indicator Instrument validated Year available Available from the Infocentre?*

Psychological distress

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale – 6 items (K6)

2008, 2014-2015

Yes

Question “Satisfaction with his/her social life”

N/A

2008, 2014-2015

Yes

Drug use

NA

2008, 2014-2015

Yes

Infocentre de santé publique (section 4.1).
N/A: not available.

  1. The map of territorial boundaries (by HR, RTS, LSN and CLSC) is available on the website of the Atlas de la Santé et de Services sociaux du Québec du MSSS: http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/statistiques/atlas/atlas/index.php?id_carte=1..