In 2002, the NSW Department of Health, in conjunction
with the 17 area health services, completed the first year
of the New South Wales Continuous Health Survey. This
is an ongoing survey of the health of people in NSW that
uses computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI).
The main aims of the Continuous Health Survey are to
provide detailed information on the health of the people
of NSW, and to support the planning, implementation,
and evaluation of health services and programs in NSW.
Following the 1997 and 1998 health surveys, this is the
third survey that has collected data on the health of adults
in NSW. This article announces the release of the report of
the New South Wales Adult Health Survey 2002 as a
supplementary issue of the NSW Public Health Bulletin,
and summarises changes in health behaviour, health status,
and satisfaction with health services, which have occurred
between 1997 and 2002.