Philips Health Well Being Index UAE English

8/3/2019 Philips Health Well Being Index UAE English

1/48

The Philips Center for Health and Well-being is focused on improving the lives of people around the world

The Philips Center for Health and Well-being

Philips Index:

UAEs Health & Well-BeingReport 2010


2/48

Philips Index: UAEs Health and Well-Being report 2010 2

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

I.Introduction

II. Survey Methodology and Results

III. UAEs Health and Well Being

IV. Health and Wellness in UAEA Closer Look

V. Segmentation AnalysisDifferent Health Personalities

VI. Perceptions about Body Weight

VII. Sleeping Habits

VIII. Stressors & Worries

IX. Community

X. Role of Technology

XI. Summary


3/48


Executive Summary

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands has conducted a survey in an effort to understand howpeople perceive their own state of health and wellbeing, in various markets around the world. Theinitiative assists the company in understanding how people feel about their health and wellbeing, as

opposed to what government statistics may say, and assists in determining the direction Philips shouldtake in product innovation that has the potential to shape the future of healthcare, an aspect of thecompany for which it is globally renowned.

This report looks specifically at the health and wellbeing of the people of the United Arab Emirates. Firstit looks in detail at the results of the surveyAssessing Public Disposition on Health & Wellbeing. Itthen cites available epidemiological data for the country in order to provide a comparison, in the thirdsection, of the populations perception of their state of health versus the reality as indicated by empiricalepidemiological data.

What is particularly startling when making this comparison is the vast gulf that exists betweenperception and reality. For example, while most of the population view themselves as being in a good

to excellent state of health, the epidemiology paints a considerably different picture with a very highpercentage of the population either overweight or obese, around 1 in 5 suffer from diabetes and manyare at risk of cardiovascular disease.

The report looks at possible reasons for this discrepancy. However, it notes that due to thecosmopolitan nature of the UAE population there are a great variety of possible rationales, which pointsto the complexity of this issue. Nonetheless, it points out that preventive measures and the use ofinnovative technology are two key factors which can be used to alleviate this critical situation.

IntroductionRoyal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is a diversified Health and Wellbeing company, focused on

improving peoples lives through appropriate and well-timed innovations. Philips is a pioneer indeveloping and bringing to market innovations that shape our health care, our lifestyle, and who we areas a society.

As a company focused on health, it looks not only at medical-related aspects of health, but also atlifestyle - that is: physical activity, healthy eating and healthy environment. It cares about the wellbeingof people, their sense of fulfilment, of feeling good and of being at ease. This also takes into accountpeoples sense of comfort, safety and security within their environment at home, at work, whenshopping or on the road.

In an effort to bring this vision to life and daily business practice, Philips conducts periodic surveysacross global markets to understand how people perceive their own state of health and wellbeing.

This reporta Health & Wellbeing in the UAE is in three parts. The first part summarises thefindings of a nationwide survey commissioned by Philips Healthcare and conducted by The NielsonCompany (Philips Healthcare has commissioned the same survey in many countries around the world),which looks at peoples perceptions of their personal state of health. The second part looks at availableepidemiological data available for the country. The third part provides a comparison between the resultsof the survey (peoples perceptions) and the epidemiological data (the reality), and discusses thisreflection.


4/48


Philips Health & Wellbeing Survey:Assessing Public Disposition on Health & Well Being in the United Arab Emirates 2010(Conducted by The Nielson CompanySeptember 2010)

A summary of the survey

Philips Healthcare commissioned a survey by The Nielsen Company titled: Assessing Public Dispositionon Health and Wellbeing in the Middle East 2010. The survey was conducted separately in the UnitedArab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to gauge peoples perceptions of theirown state of health and wellbeing.

Following is a summary of the findings of the survey carried out in the UAE. The survey is based on asample of 750 adult residents in the UAE in the age group 18-60 years and was conducted face to facewith respondents in three citiesDubai (40%), Abu Dhabi (40%) and Sharjah (20%). The respondentsincluded all resident nationalities across all socio-economic classes grouped as follows: Nationals (20%),Expat Arabs (25%), Expat Asians (45%) and Expat Westerners (10%). This division is representative ofthe population demographic of the UAE.

Figure 1.Survey Respondents.

The survey also provides a cluster analysis to take into accountthe different approaches people take to managing their health. Foursub-segments of the population were developed for the purpose ofthe survey: Health Committed, Doctor Dependents, WellbeingSelf-Governors and Health Traditionalists.

Overall the survey found that UAE residents are extremely happywith their Quality of Life, Health and Wellbeing with a Total Index

score of 88%a very high figure.

The Total Index comprises five indicesJob satisfaction, Community,Physical Health, Wellbeing, and Friends and Family. Particularlypertinent are the scores for the Physical Health index (93%) and theWellbeing index (94%), which are extremely high, indicating that, ingeneral, the residents of the UAE feel that their health and wellbeingis extremely good.

Categorised by age group, some 90% of the under-30 age group

perceive their health and wellbeing as being good to very good. Inthe 31-40 age bracket 83% believe their health and wellbeing is goodto very good. Naturally this declines in the older age groups, but isstill remarkably high in the 41-50 age group78%. Fifty-six percentof the 51-60 age group perceive their health and wellbeing as good tovery good.

Totals

Total 750

GenderMen 60%

Women 40%

Age18-24 years 25%

25-30 years 20%

3140 years 35%

4150 years 15%

5160 years 5%

Socio Economic ClassAB 15%

C1 40%

C2 45%

CityDubai 40%

Abu Dhabi 40%

Sharjah 20%

NationalityNationals 20%

Expat Arabs 25%

Expat Asians 45%

Expat

Westerners

10%


5/48


Figure 2. -- How would you rate the state of your physical health?

Base:

All RespondentsFigs in %

50 53 47

63

48

30

8

34 31 37

27

35

48

48

8 8 84

911

22

7 7 7 6 78

19

1 1 1 1 3 3

Total Male Female Below 30 years 31 - 40 years 41 - 50 years 51 - 60 years

Not good at all

Somewhat good

Neither good or bad

Good

Very goo d

(753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36)

5041

56 58

47 48 5160

3445

2628

30 31

3830

8 116

5

10 8

6

973

11 8

12 11

411 1 1 1 2 1

Total Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Nationals Expat Arabs Expat Asians ExpatWesterners

Not good at all

Somewhat goo d

Neither good or bad

Good

Very good

Base:


(753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70)

The score is fairly even across all nationalities with slightly more Expat Asians and Westernersperceiving their health and wellbeing to be good to very good compared to Nationals and Expat Arabs.An equal ratio of males and females has this perception.

Physical HealthRegarding physical health, the perception is unanimous that their own physical health is generally goodto excellent. Understandably this declines with age, although only slightly. Ninety-nine percent of those

below 30 years of age believe their physical health is generally good to excellent. In the 31-40 age groupthis figure drops to 94%; in the 41-50 age group it is a remarkable 90%; and in the 51-60 age group it isan extraordinary 89%.

This perception is fairly similar across all nationalities with Expat Westerners (100%) and Expat Asians(99%) slightly higher than Expat Arabs (91%) and Nationals (89%).


6/48


Factors affecting health and wellbeingInterestingly the survey looked at a range of factors that people think will affect their personal healthand wellbeing and ranked them according to importance.

Top of the list is mental health, followed by physical health. This was followed by job satisfaction inthird position and the relationship with family in fourth position. Significantly, family appears to play an

important role in peoples perceptions of their health and wellbeing as they ranked the overall physicalhealth of family members in fifth place. These factors were rated above the relationship with theirspouse or partner (8th place), the cost of living (9th place) and even how much stress they have (13thplace). The place of community in peoples lives the community one lives in (16th place) and onescontribution to community (19th place)is clearly a relatively unimportant factor affecting ones healthand wellbeing.

Figure 3. -- Important factors Affecting Health / Well Being

88

88

8481

81

80

78

76

75

74

73

72

71

69

68

67

67

63

57

12

12

1318

18

17

17

21

23

25

24

25

27

28

30

30

31

34

36

1

1

3

1

1

1

2

2

2

3

2

3

3

3

6

1

1

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Very important Somewhat important Somewhat unimportant Not important at allBase: All Respondents (753)Figs in %

Your mental health

Your overall physical health

Your jobHow well you get along with your family

The overall physical health of family members

How much you earn

Whether you are employed or not

The relationship with your spouse or partner

The cost of living

The relationship with your boss / coworkers

How much you weigh

The place of worship you attend, if any

How much stress you have

How much vacation time you have

How well you get along with your friends

The community you live in

Free time spent with friends / family regularly

Free time you can spend alone

How much you contribute to your community

A simple analysis of these results shows that this is largely a family-oriented society, where strong familyrelationships and the health of the family are considered more important than ones career andindividual wellbeing.

The survey looks at peoples perceptions of their change in health over time and naturally withincreasing prosperity in the country they view this as positivemost believe their health hasimproved over time. Only a few Expat Arabs and Nationals believe it has got worse. It also shows


7/48


2621

29 3023

28 2720

7479

71 7077

72 7380


No, I dont think I am

overweight

Yes, I think I amoverweight


Base:(753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70)

that most believe their health is under their personal control, however, the older category (51-60 years)felt it was beyond their control.

StressOnly a small percentage of people in the UAE feel they are stressed. Older people feel slightly more

stressed than the younger people, but the percentage is very smallless than 20%in both groups.Extremely few people (4%) in the UAE rely on mood stabilisation, anxiety or anti-depressant medication.

Future health threatsParticularly interesting is the perception people have of future threats (over the next 5 years) to theirhealth. Declining vision and viral infections ranked highest (11% of respondents), while serious diseasessuch as heart attack and cancer ranked lowest (just 1%). Ten percent rated high cholesterol and obesityas a threat to their health and 9% believed high blood sugar and diabetes will be a threat. Significantlywomen rated most potential health threats higher than men did in the survey.

The survey looks briefly as whether people of the UAE are curious about medical conditions that may

affect them. It finds that some 88% of respondents would like to know if they had a terminal disease andsome 92% would like to know if they had an illness that could affect them in the future.

Body weightThe survey looks at peoples perceptions of body weight and finds that in total nearly 75% believe their

body weight is correct. Only a quarter of respondents think they are overweight. The perceptions aresimilar across all nationalitiesNationals (77%); Expat Arabs (72%); Expat Asians (73%); ExpatWesterners (80%).

Figure 4 - Do you consider yourself to be overweight?


8/48


26 25 2819

3227

50

74 75 7281

68 73

50


No, I don't think I amoverweight


Base: (753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36)All RespondentsFigs in %

The survey finds that for respondents who consider themselves overweight, changing ones diet is thepreferred way to lose weightthat is eating fewer calories and embarking on a diet programme. Doingmore physical exercise was not considered effective as a way to lose weight. In the youngest age group(under 30) only 19% rated exercise as the best way to lose weight while the majority (81%) opted forvarious forms of diet control. In the 31-40 age group only 7% opted for exercise. This figure was 9% inthe 41-50 age bracket and 5% in the 51-60 age group.

TechnologyMost residents believe that technology has made their lives better. The technology being used rangesfrom medical technology to smart phones and the internet. Many people believe that technology is

improving their lifestyle and contributing to a healthier life. Its also interesting to note that peopleacross every age bracket in the UAE support technological innovation and most disagree that technologyhas made their lives more stressful.

Among various potential health and wellbeing uses for technology, they favour the idea of usingtechnological devices for diet controldevices that can tell them their intake of calories and track theirdaily physical activity.

CommunityThe survey finds that health-related aspects of the neighbourhood community, such as location ofhospitals and health care facilities, are the most important features affecting their preferred communitiesin which to live. This is followed by job opportunities in the area and overall safety of the locality. The

proximity of art and cultural centres ranked at the bottom of the list.

Health PersonalitiesThe survey analyses the attitudes related to managing ones health and well-being by classifying peopleinto four groups:

Health Committedthese are people who are proactive about their health and willing to try newapproaches


9/48


Doctor Dependentsthis group is passive about health management. They are worried aboutbeing unfit, but still follow doctors orders

Well-Being Self-Governorsthis group avoids doctors and hospitals. They prefer self healthmanagement

Health TraditionalistsThese people do what the doctor says, but only to a certain degree. They

are generally healthy, but not necessarily physically fit.

These four groups were assessed against five indices of health: job, community, physical, wellbeing,friends & family. The findings are as follows:

Well-being Self-GovernorsThis group of people feels the healthiest for their age. They believe health has improved quite a lot overthe past few years. They also strongly believe that good health is up to personal effort and discretion.They seldom visit their doctors and are least curious to find out about any terminal diseases that theymay have.

They believe that they are in very good shape and not overweight at all. Among the few who consider

themselves overweight, changing their eating habits is the most popular option to losing weight. Doingexercise is an important option for them. They do not believe they are too stressed and do not believein taking medicines for stress. They believe technology has improved almost all aspects of life.

Health TraditionalistsThis group does not believe they are very healthy. Further, they also think they have very little controlover their personal health and thus there is very little they can do to improve it. However, they feeltheir health has improved quite a bit over the past few years.

They do not visit their doctors regularly, but are interested in finding out if they were to have illness orhealth conditions in future.

They believe technology has improved critical elements of life such as security, communication,education and medicine and tend to make good use of technology. They are the most tech savvy.

Doctor DependentsThese people have the lowest Index Scores. They have the lowest rating on overall health and wellbeingand predictably, feel their health has deteriorated over recent times. Nearly 20% perceive themselvespotentially facing serious health problems and also using medication to fight anxiety and stress.

Many people from this group do not believe that good health is under their personal control. Theirlifestyle habits exacerbate their sense of ill-health. Even though they strongly believe they are overweightand hope to lose weight, they are least willing to do any physical exercise to address it. They wouldrather change their dietary habits than take up active lifestyle.

They are highly dependent on their doctors word and visit them regularly. They also complain aboutsleeplessness caused largely due to stress and worries. They believe they are much more stressed thanthe average UAE resident.

They are very pro-technology and believe it has improved almost all aspects of their life. Since most ofthese people want to monitor their food and diet to usher in a healthy lifestyle, technology pertaining tofood and diet is perceived to find greater usage among this group.


10/48


Health CommittedThese people believe their health has remained largely the same and good health is under their personalcontrol. They rate their health quite high and maintain a very active lifestyle with a lot of regularexercise. They also come across as chronic hypochondriacs who seek and have the highest interactionwith doctors. In spite of visiting their doctors regularly, they believe that they dont visit them enough.They are also the group that most often seeks a second opinion from another doctor. Understandably

healthcare costs are most stressful to them.

They are highly curious to find out about terminal diseases or any illness or health conditions that mayaffect them in the future. Nearly 20% of this group complains about lack of sleep. Of the 4 groups, theyare most inclined towards using technology that can improve ones mood or reduce stress.

Epidemiological data for the UAEIt is interesting to note these perceptions of personal health and wellbeing that the Nielsen survey findsfor the UAE population and weigh them against the reality on the groundthe existing empiricalepidemiology of the UAE. Although data from studies of health and illness patterns in the UAE is ratherthin, there are a few studies that have been carried out in the past 10 years, which paint a ratherdifferent picture to that perceived by UAE nationals and foreign residents alike.

To make the presentation of this data clearer it is best to look at each disease state separately, althoughthey are all largely interconnected under what can be termed diseases of lifestyle and here were talkingabout obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. These diseases are alllargely preventable and are caused in most part by an unhealthy lifestylethat is unhealthy eating habitsand sedentary living, one that involves only a minimal amount of physical activity.This part of the report will look at the epidemiology of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease inthe UAE. It will also look separately and briefly at the incidence of cancer in the UAE.

ObesityAccording to the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO), the most recent survey ofobesity in United Arab EmiratesUAEHALS2000was carried out in 2000. The survey found:

17.1% of men (aged 20-79) were obese (BMI between 30 and 39.9). 36.7% of men (aged 20-79) were overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9). 31.4% of women (aged 20-79) were obese (BMI between 30 and 39.9) 28.4% of women (aged 20-79) were overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9).

[Reference:UAEHALS2000 Measuring the health of the Nation. United Arab Emirates lifestylesurvey 2000 was published by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the College of Business& Economics, UAE University.]

According to the IASO, the most recent survey of childhood obesity in the UAE was conducted during1998-1999. The survey found:

19.2% of boys (aged 5-17) were overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9). 13.2% of boys (aged 5-17) were obese (BMI between 30 and 39.9). 19.6% of girls (aged 5-17) were overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9). 12.8% of girls (aged 5-17) were obese (BMI between 30 and 39.9).

The Weqaya programme, initiated in Abu Dhabi in 2008 to combat the rising incidence of cardiovasculardisease (CVD), has collated data from the screening of nearly 95% adult Nationals in the Emirate of AbuDhabi. Initial results from the screening were release by the Health authority-Abu Dhabi in 2010.


11/48


Although it only looks at UAE national adults in Abu Dhabi it does give a good indication the state ofhealth across the UAE, as the lifestyles are similar in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

Initial results of the Weqaya programme, which focuses on risk factors for CVD show that 34% Emiratiadults are overweight, a further 36% are obese and only 30% of Emirati adults have a normal, healthyweight. The screening survey also found that 36% of Emirati adult nationals have high blood lipid levels

warranting treatment.

The Weqaya programme found that 56% of those screened have central obesitythat is obesity aroundthe abdomen. Abdominal obesity is believed to be a major risk factor for diabetes type II.

HypertensionAccording to data provided by the Emirates Cardiology Society (ECS), results from the PURE trial- a worldwide epidemiological study that included 150,782 participants from the Emirates - 40% of theadult population has high blood pressure (hypertension) of which 60% are receiving medical treatment.However, the ECS goes on to say that of those undergoing treatment just 38% have their bloodpressure under controlleaving 62% still suffering from high blood pressure despite medicalintervention.

The Weqaya programme found that 17% of Emirati adults have hypertension.

DiabetesOne of the first studies, the data of which has been used for the past 10 years, was a joint studybetween the UAE Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation between 1998 and 2000.The study was conducted on 6,609 men and women, including 2,363 Nationals and 4,246 expatriates.It reported that the overall percentage of people with diabetes was 19.6%. In the UAE Nationals group,the percentage was 24%, while in the expatriate group it amounted to 17.4%. These are phenomenalfigures when compared to the global average at that time of 5% to 7%. This study is mentioned brieflyto highlight the fact that knowledge of the diabetes epidemic in the UAE has been circulating for a nearlya decade.

The most recent data from the International Diabetes Federations Diabetes Atlas 2010 puts theprevalence of diabetes in the UAE at 12.7%. However, when this is readjusted for internationalcomparative purposes (using the age profile of the world population), the figure is 18.7%, the secondhighest in the world and considerably higher than the next highest in the region, the Kingdom of SaudiArabia (16.8%).

The Weqaya programme found that 21% of Emirati National adults in Abu Dhabi had evidence ofdiabetes.

Cardiovascular DiseaseThere are no accurate statistics available providing the overall incidence or prevalence of cardiovasculardisease in the UAE. However, a number of reports based on data from a few select hospitals indicatethat around 28% of deaths in the UAE are caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is believed tobe the UAEs primary cause of mortality.

Initial results from the Weqaya programme show: 71% population have at least one CVD risk factor 20% males and 9% females have at least 10% chance of CVD event (heart attack or stroke) in the next10 years


12/48


8% males and 2% females have at least 20% chance of CVD event in the next 10 years

CancerAccording to 2008 figures (the latest available) from Globocan (the online global cancer index), thenumber of new cancer cases in the UAE that year was 1,600 within a total population of 4.4 million.

According to Globocan the risk of getting cancer before age 75 in the UAE is 8.8% for males and 12.7%for females.

The risk of dying from cancer before age 75 in the UAE is 6.1% for men and 6.8% for women.

The five most common cancers in men in the UAE are Colorectal, Lung, Leukaemia, Non-Hodgkinlymphoma, Prostate. In women the five most common cancers are Breast, Thyroid, Colorectal, Cervixuteri, Leukaemia.

Obesity is a risk factor for many forms of cancer. According to the World Cancer Research Fund,overall between 30% and 40% of all cases of cancer could be prevented by better diets, more physicalactivity and maintenance of appropriate body weight. The International Obesity Task Force points outthat avoiding becoming overweight, avoiding fatty foods, eating more fruit and vegetables and stayingactive contributes significantly to preventing cancer.

Discussion

Lack of awarenessLooking at the epidemiological data, it is clear that there is an epidemic of obesity and diabetes in theUAE. However, the Nielsen survey commissioned by Philips Healthcare makes it clear that the people ofthe UAE are unaware of the epidemic of obesity and diabetes in the country. They are, to put it simply,unaware of their current state of ill health.

The Nielsen survey finds that around 75% of the population believe they are of normal weight, whereasin reality this figure is only around 30%. There is a major discrepancy here, which naturally raises anumber of important questions. In particular: Why do most people have such a radical misconception oftheir personal state of health? And what can be done to correct this perception?

Obesity is a key risk factor for diabetes type II, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and certain forms ofcancer, yetand this is importantit appears most of the population are unaware of the implications ofbeing overweight or obesethat is, it will result in prolonged morbidity and the likelihood of prematuredeath.

The epidemic of obesity in the UAE is a serious issue with repercussions on a several levels. Withouturgent action to reduce the incidence of obesity many more people will go on to develop diabetes

already at epidemic proportionsand a significant number of people will be at high risk of early heartattack or stroke. However, it is not only the health and wellbeing of the people of the UAE that is atstake here, but also the enormous and increasing financial burden that treatment for these diseases willplace on the government.

These diseases are to a large extent preventable through lifestyle intervention. Fundamentally peopleneed to increase their physical activity and correct their unhealthy eating habits.


13/48


So why is it that the population of the UAE appears to be deceiving themselves about their current stateof health? Is it that there are insufficient public awareness and education programmes? Is it a culturalphenomenondoes overweight represent wealth and status? Or perhaps they are simply complacentand dont want to know the reality of the situation? There are many possible reasons, reflecting the

complexity of this issue, which is made even more so by the multi-cultural composition of the UAEpopulation.

Fundamentally, it appears that there is a misconception among the people of the UAE about what is thecorrect body weight, about what food is good or bad to eat, about how much food should be consumedand about how much physical activity is required in order to lead a healthy lifestyle.

The fact that so few people engage in at least a minimum of physical activity to stay healthy or reduceweight points to an apparent apathy or complacency among the population to take responsibility fortheir health. Interestingly the Nielsen survey finds that on average only around 10% of respondentsbelieve exercise would help them lose weight.

This is compounded by the misperception that there is actually nothing wrong with their personalhealth. For example, in the 31-40 age bracket 83% believe their health and wellbeing is good to very

good, according to the Nielsen survey.

Only 1% of those surveyed believe that heart disease or cancer is a threat to their health, while in realityheart disease is the biggest killer in the UAE and the chances of dying from cancer before the age of 75are more than 6%.

The UAE is not unique in this position. All countries which have experienced increasing prosperity overthe past few decades have seen a rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes. They are truly diseases oflifestyle, where peoples living habits change with increasing prosperitytheir diet becomes less healthyas they consume more high-fat and fast food and, most significantly, they do far less physical activity,preferring, for example, to drive to work in their vehicles rather than walk, cycle or use publictransport. This all leads to an increasing propensity for obesity and its life threatening co-morbidities.

Finding a solution to this issue is certainly no simple matter. It involves considerable will and resourcesof both the public and private sector and needs to be tackled on a number of frontsnamely:awareness, screening, planning and acting.

Implementing lifestyle change is enormously difficult, but not insurmountable. There are an increasingnumber of awareness programmes throughout the UAE about the dangers of an unhealthy lifestyle,however they are fragmented meaning there can be little measure of their effectiveness. They should bebetter co-ordinated by a central body with robust measurement techniques in place. Public healthscreening should be conducted routinely. The Weqaya initiative by the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi is avery good example of the benefits of this sort of public health programme. With clear epidemiologicaldata a clear plan of action can be drawn up and implemented. This process needs to be continuous andadaptable to changing conditions.

Public-private partnerships are essential to implement these plans of action and this was expressed bythe UAE Ministry of Health which said in 2010 that they cannot carry this burden alone and that dealingwith the issue of obesity and diabetes is the responsibility of everyonegovernment, the private sector,NGOs and even families.

PreventionPrevention is key. There must be sustained, effective and targeted media campaigns to raise public


14/48


awareness of the issue. Education programmes in schools are essential. There is a need for well craftedlegislation to improve dietary habits and increase physical activity in schools. Some legislation along theselines has already been implemented such as the recent banning of carbonated sugary soft drinks inschools. However, other preventive measures could be put in place, particularly those targeting theyouth as they are the most vulnerable and are the future of this country. The banning of fast-foodadvertising that targets children is one measure that has been debated.

Physical activity for school children needs to be stepped up significantly. Sporting activities and facilitiesin schools are sorely lacking. Athletics, swimming, football, cricket, basketball and tennis can all beoffered in schools. It should be compulsory for children to participate regularly in at least one of theseextramural sporting activities. However, the shortage of accessible sporting facilities in the UAEcomplicates this issue. Some people say the hot climate in the UAE is unsuitable for outdoor sports, butthere are six months of the year when it is certainly cool enough to play sports outdoors. There shouldbe a focus on outdoor sport during these months and indoor sport during the hot summer months.Interschool sport leagues should be set up to encourage competition, which will motivate andincentivise the children to participate.

These are just some recommendations. Others include thoughtful urban planning to encourage more

physical activity by making the cities more conducive to pedestrians and cyclists, for example. Althoughthere are now several screening campaigns for diabetes, hypertension, breast cancer, etc, on an ad hocbasis across the UAE, these could be better co-ordinated, monitored and include robust epidemiologicaldata collection. On the back of this data a clear and functional plan of action can be developed andimplemented. The Weqaya programme is a good example of this process. The role of PrimaryHealthcare Practitioners is of prime importance in prevention. These doctors are the first line ofdefence for most people. They should be knowledgeable about lifestyle diseases, be able to foreseepotential health threats in their patients and provide solid lifestyle education for patients and theirfamilies.

TechnologyTechnology has a huge and important role to play at all levels of healthcareprevention, early diagnosis

and treatment. Most people surveyed see technology as an advantage in their lives, rather than a causeof stress, and they are quick to adopt new technology.

Technology has entered nearly all facets of our life and has many benefits. One technology mentioned inthe survey is a device that can measure our daily calorie intake and compare it to our physical activity togive us a measure of how healthy our lifestyle is on a daily basis and allow us to make appropriateadjustments to improve it. Devices such as these can have a positive and beneficial impact.

However, there is a negative side to technology, which people should be aware of and that is theamount of time we spend using it to the detriment of our health. Children and adults alike spend a largepart of each day working on computers, watching TV and playing video games, the downside of thisbeing that they dont do sufficient physical activity.

Professor Lord Ara Darzi, head of the Institute of Global Health Innovation, puts it succinctly: Theworld is facing completely different pressures compared with 20 years ago. Life expectancy hasincreased dramatically, lifestyle diseases such as obesity are rife, and non-communicable diseases such asdiabetes are increasingly becoming a problem in developing countries as well as in the West. We cant

just build more hospitals or buy more beds; the whole way in which we provide healthcare has got tochange. The world is crying out for low cost, high impact technologies that can be employed widelyacross the globe.


15/48


Philips Health & Wellbeing Survey

2010: Assessing Public Disposition

on Health & Well Being in UAE

I.IntroductionRoyal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on

improving peoples lives through timely innovations. Philips integrates technologies and design into

people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights. It is a pioneer in developing and

bringing to market innovations that shape our health care, our lifestyle, and who we are as asociety.

As a company focused on Health the company focuses not only medical-related aspects of health, but

also keeping fit, eating a healthy diet, and living a healthy lifestyle. And by well-being, the company means

a general sense of fulfillment, feeling good and at ease. It also refers to a sense of comfort, safety and

security people feel in their environmentat home, at work, when shopping or on the road.

In an effort to bring this vision to life and daily business practice, Philips conducts periodic surveys

across the global markets to understand how people are perceiving their own state of health and well-

being.

To understand this, they approached Nielsen to design a study that explores the same.

This study seeks to gain an understanding of public disposition on health and well being in the Middle

East.

We believe that this understanding will enable Philips to continue to pioneer products, services and

game-changing innovations that will help people, communities, health care systems, governments, and

future generations address the critical issues surrounding how we live, how content we are, and our

own roles in those dimensions of our lives.


16/48


II. Survey Methodology and ResultsThe Overall Approach

The study is an in-depth analysis of how people feel about importantissues related to healthcare, lifestyle and technology.The study focuses on measuring

Perception & disposition towards overall Health and Well-Being

Salience of community in personal Health & Well-being

Role of technology in delivering better Health & sense of Well-

Being

Research MethodologyThe Philips Index is based on a nationally representative sampleof 750 adult residents of UAE in age group of 18-60 years. The

study was conducted in partnership with The Nielsen Company,who administered the research face to face to the respondentsusing pen & paper methodology. The fieldwork was conductedin August, 2010.

Respondents were chosen in a random order using quotas.Questionnaire was bilingual i.e. administered in English andArabic. It mostly consisted of close-ended questions and fewopen ended questions. For the close-ended grading questions,the response was captured on a 4-point or a 5-point scale aswas done across other geographies.

Cluster AnalysisPhilips recognizes that people take different approaches tomanaging their overall health and well-being. Using a K-meanscluster analysis, Nielsen reviewed multiple cluster solutions tocreate four sub-segments of the population: Health Committed,Dr. Dependents, Well-Being Self-Governers and HealthTraditionalists. Each of these segments is described more fully inthis report.

Totals

Total 750

Gender

Men 60%

Women 40%

Age

18-24 years 25%

25-30 years 20%

3140 years 35%

4150 years 15%

5160 years 5%

Socio Economic Class

AB 15%

C1 40%

C2 45%

City

Dubai 40%

Abu Dhabi 40%

Sharjah 20%

Nationality

Nationals 20%

Expat Arabs 25%

Expat Asians 45%

ExpatWesterners

10%


17/48


Total Index Job Index Community Index Physical Index Well Being IndexFriends and Family

Index

88% 75% 88% 93% 94% 93%

Health & Wellness Report

The residents of UAE are extremely happy with the overall Quality ofLife

Total Index is a very high score of 88%indicating a high quality of life in UAE. Feelingsof physical health and well being are strong. JobIndex score performance is lower as comparedto other index scores. Given the family orientedculture in UAE, the friends and family index

proves that the respondents have strong familyties and indicates good family bond to be one ofthe reasons for favorable health and wellness.Occupational health is an area that needs focussince the overall job satisfaction is the region islow.

Figure 1: The Indices

While the indices of most of the demographicbreaks are largely comparable to Total figure,

Western Expats have the highest Total Indexscore pointing to high satisfaction with overalllife standard in UAE. Results show that menhave better job satisfaction as compared towomen. Residents of Dubai and Sharjah are less

satisfied with their jobs as compared toresidents of Abu Dhabi.

The highest variation amongst all 6 indices isseen for Job Index. Again Expat Westernershave the highest Job Index while Nationals havethe lowest Job Index score.


18/48


The IndicesBy Breaks

Total < 30yrs 31 - 40yrs 41 - 50yrs 51 - 60yrs Nationals ExpatsExpatArabs

ExpatAsians

ExpatWesterner

Total Index 88% 87% 90% 89% 89% 86% 89% 87% 89% 94%Job Index 75% 70% 82% 79% 78% 67% 78% 73% 78% 91%

Community 88% 88% 87% 88% 85% 90% 87% 90% 84% 90%

Physical 93% 96% 91% 91% 92% 91% 94% 90% 94% 96%

Well Being 94% 95% 93% 93% 96% 92% 95% 93% 95% 98%

Friends andFamily

93% 89% 97% 96% 96% 92% 93% 91% 94% 93%

Total Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Male Female SEC A/B SEC C1 SEC C2

Total Index 88% 92% 86% 86% 90% 85% 90% 88% 88%

Job Index 75% 91% 66% 67% 85% 63% 79% 75% 75%

Community 88% 83% 90% 94% 88% 87% 90% 88% 86%

Physical 93% 94% 92% 93% 94% 91% 93% 92% 93%

Well Being 94% 94% 94% 94% 94% 94% 95% 94% 94%

Friends and Family 93% 96% 92% 88% 92% 93% 93% 93% 93%


19/48


IV. Health and Wellness in UAEI Feel Good!

There is a strong sense of good health & well

being in UAE. Over 4/5th

of the residents inUAE feel they have good health. Amongst age

groups, below 30 years group feels thehealthiest. Understandably, 51-60 years age

group doesnt feel as good about their healthand well being. Feeling of good health & wellbeing is highest amongst Western Expats

compared to all 4 Nationalities.

Base:


50 53 47

63

48

30

8

34 31 37

27

35

48

48

8 8 84

911

22

7 7 7 6 78

19

1 1 1 1 3 3


Not good at all

Somewhat good

Neither good or bad

Good

Very goo d

(753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36) Figure 2: How would you rate your overall feeling of health and well-being?

5041

56 58

47 48 5160

3445

2628

30 31

3830

811

65

10 8

697

311 8 12 11

411 1 1 1 2 1


Not good at all

Somewhat goo d

Neither good or bad

Good

Very good

Base:


(753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70) Figure 3: How would you rate your overall feeling of health and well-being?


20/48


Status of Physical Health

There is an almost unanimous feeling ofgood health in UAE; especially amongst

youngsters under the age of 30. Among theolder demographics, there is an increasing

sense of infirmity and of facing seriousproblems. This is particularly more amongst

women than men.

65 67 63

79

61

43 39

31 29 31

20

33

4750

4 4 51

68 8

1 2 3


Poor, with s eriousproblems

Fair, with somepotentially seriousproblems

Generally goo d, butwith some minor

problems

Excellent, with nosignificant problems

(753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36)

Base:


Figure 4: How would you rate the state of your physical health?

Regions are exhibiting almost similarperformance when it comes to rating their

physical health. Expat Westerners followed

by Asians rate their physical health thehighest

66 68 64 66 60 59

70

81

30 3029 26

29 32

29

19

4 2 6 7 10 811 1 1 1


Poor, with seriousproblems

Fair, with somepotentially seriousproblems

Generally good , butwith some minorproblems

Excellent, with nosignificant problems

All RespondentsFigs in %Base: (753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70)

Figure 5: How would you rate the state of your physical health?


21/48


Important factors Affecting Health / Well Being

While there are many factors that go on toimpact ones sense ofhealth and wellbeing,Personal Health & Well Being is far more

important to ones sense of wellnesscompared to community lifestyle factors inUAE. Mental health and the overall physicalhealth top the list of factors affecting health.

On the other hand, contribution tocommunity or community one lives in, areamong the less important factors impactingWell Being in UAE. It is inte wellbeing offamily members are rated resting to notethat rapport with & more important thanlevel of income, cost of living & work life.

88

88

84

81

81

80

78

76

75

74

73

72

71

69

68

67

67

63

57

12

12

13

18

18

17

17

21

23

25

24

25

27

28

30

30

31

34

36

1

1

3

1

1

1

2

2

2

3

2

3

3

3

6

1

1

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Very important Somewhat important Somewhat unimportant Not important at all

Base: All Respondents (753)Figs in %

Your mental health


Your job

How well you get along with your family


How much you earn



The cost of living


How much you weigh









Figure 6: How important are the following in affecting your feeling of health and well-being


22/48


80

69

60

74

71

41

60

70

42

63

57

68

54

52

66

59

47

45

50

20

29

35

24

28

51

36

28

39

35

36

30

39

42

34

38

49

49

46

3

4

1

1

6

3

1

14

1

6

2

5

5

1

2

3

5

4

1

2

1

1

6

1

1

1

Very Satisfied Somewhat Satisfied Somewhat Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied

Your mental health


Your job

How well you get along with your family


How much you earn



The cost of living


How much you weigh









Strong Family Orientation Driving High Satisfaction

When the level of satisfaction with variousaspects of life is analyzed*, an interestingpattern emergesthere is a clear hierarchyof factors that are driving overallsatisfaction in UAE. They stack up asfollows: Personal & Family Health, Rapportwith Family, God & Religion, Communitymindedness, Individual well being (such aspersonal free time, stress level, vacationtime) and lastly Work/Career.

This emphasizes the family-oriented societythat UAE largely is compared to theWestern World Individual Well Being &Career are of lowest satisfaction whileHealth of & relationship with family is of

highest satisfaction.

There is unanimous satisfaction among theresidents of UAE regarding their & theirfamily members mental & physical health.

However, when probed on their earningsand cost of living, many are not verysatisfied. The job related figures show thecurrent employment situation in the region.Since the cost of living is quite high, salariesare not upto employees expectations.

Strong family networks, relation withspouse or partner and support are likely tohelp alleviate some of the increased stresslevels being currently experienced by many.

*Analyzed by sorting combined Top 2 Box Scores (Very Satisfied & Satisfied)

Figure 7: How satisfied are you with the following aspects of your life?


23/48


Overall Change in Status of Health is largely Positive

Nearly half the people in UAE believe thattheir health has improved in recent times.And most of the remaining people believe it

has stayed the same but not worsened.Some people in 51-60years age group

believe their health has deteriorated in therecent time. But this is to be expected giventhe infirmity related to aging rather than any

other extrinsic factors.

27 29 2431

24 24

11

18 1819

16

1824

25

50 50 5152

52 43

55

4 3 51

66 6

1 1 3 3


Much worse

Slightly worse

Stayed the same

A little better

Much better

Base:

All RespondentsFigs in % (753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36)

Figure 8: What is your overall feeling about the change in your state of health and wellbeing?

While the Asian & Western Expats feel thattheir health has remained the same or

improved in recent times, some of theNationals & Expat Arabs feel their health

has worsened in recent times. Residents ofAbu Dhabi are most satisfied with the

improvement in health while those inSharjah complain about feeling poorly.


2734

22 2434

39

19 19

18

16

2021

1715

1924

5048

53 4740 38

6057

4 2 4 7 7 721 1 1 2 1


Much worse

Slightly worse

Stayed the same

A little better

Much better

Base: (753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70)

Figure 9: What is your overall feeling about the change in your state of health and wellbeing?


24/48


Good Health is believed to be under ones control & choiceMost people in UAE believe that goodhealth is up to personal effort anddiscretion. Understandably older people in

the 51-60years age group feel they cant domuch about their health.

10 11 9 10 12 8 11

31 30 32 2829 37

50

59 59 59 62 5956

39


For the most part, myhealth is up to me

How I take care ofmyself makes animportant diff erence in

my health

Nothing much that Ican do about myhealth

(753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36)

Base:All RespondentsFigs in %

Figure 10: Do you feel that the state of your health is up to you to control?

The optimism that health is under onesown control is highest amongst Nationals

and lowest among Expat Asians &Westerners

10 11 9 10 6 713 13

3134

30 2829 31

32 30

59 55 61 62 65 62 55 57


For the mostpart, my health is upto me

How I take care ofmyself makes animportant diff erence

in my health

Nothing much that Ican do about myhealth

All RespondentsFigs in %Base: (753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70)

Figure 11: Do you feel that the state of your health is up to you to control?


25/48


Very low incidence of medicines for Mood stabilization & Anxiety

An extremely minute percentage of thepopulation is using medication to fight

anxiety & stress in the UAE. Majority acrossgender and age groups doesnt use anymedication for anxiety, stress or moodstabilization. As compared to Arabs(Nationals and Expat), Expat Asians and

Westerners seem to require no medicinesfor anxiety and stress. It can be surmisedthat the job related stress faced by Arabs ,more than others, could be one of thedriving factors for higher incidence of stressmedication in this group.

96 96 97 97 97 93 92

4 4 3 3 3 7 8


Yes, I amtakingmedicinesfo r Anxiety

No, I am nottakingmedicinesfo r Anxiety

(753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36)

Figure 12: On any medication for anxiety, stress or mood stabilization?


26/48


Potential ThreatNext 5 Years

Serious threats such as Cancer, Heart attackand others are perceived far less as potentialthreats compared to lifestyle and age related

problems such as declining vision, highcholesterol, obesity, Arthritis etc.

As compared to men, women are seen tobe facing greater problems related todeclining vision, overweight, arthritis etc. as

a potential threat.

3

2

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

1

1

1

1

1

3

2

2

1

2

Widespread influenza (Flu)

High blood pressure

Declining hearing

Memory loss

Heart attack

Cancer

Depression

11

11

10

10

9

7

7

5

8

11

12

9

9

6

7

4

15

12

8

12

10

9

8

5

Declining vision

Viral infections

High cholesterol

Being Overweight/Obesity

High sugar count/diabetes

Joint pain/ Arthritis

Bacterial Infections

Anxiety

Total Male Female

Base: All Respondents (753)

Figs in %

Figure 13: Potential threats to your Health in next 5 years? [Multiple Answer]


27/48


Role of Doctor - Rare meetings but first destination of

consultation

Given the overall high level of health,frequency of visit to the doctors for

general consultation is quite low. Visit tothe doctor for specific problems isrelatively more frequent though.

Men are less frequent as compared towomen when it comes to specific healthproblem. Nationals & Expat Arabs aremore frequent visitors than others

Residents of Dubai visit doctor a coupleof times a year as compared to those inAbu Dhabi and Sharjah.

In spite of low frequency of visits to doctor, incase of any illness, majority of the people rely

on doctors as the first source of information.Across the regions and nationalities, doctorsare the first hand source of informationfollowed by family members or friends onhealth related issues. Internet is still not apopular destination to get the first informationon illness or any other health related issues.

Family members / friends also have a say whenit comes to health related information. In UAE,the family related culture plays a vital role inhealth related advices/decisions.

1 1 2 2 2

85 5 7

4

5 6

17

5 56

45 7

11

16 1617

12

19

23

1130 28

32

28

31

31

28

43 4536

52

3831

25


Hardly ever / never

A couple o f times a year

Every few months

Once a month

2 -3 times per month

Weekly once / more often

(753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36)

Base:


Figure 14: How often do you go to a doctor for a specific problem?

63 63 63 66 63 63 6167

20 21 1919 22

1428 16

83 11

9 8

10

7

6

59

3 3 57

210

1 4 4 3 2 6 21

Tota l Abu Dhab i Duba i Sharjah Nationals Expat Arabs Expat Asians ExpatWesterners

Others

Internet search

Pharmacists

Family members orfriends

Doctors


Base:(753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70)

Figure 15: Where do you usually get your medical or Health information first?


28/48


Low visitations to a Dentist

General dental check-ups are quite rarewith most people visiting a dentist just once

a year or lesser in UAE. Expat Asians makeleast frequent visits to dentists. However,there is the more careful 3rd of thepopulation who visit dentist every sixmonths or earlier. Half of the residents ofAbu Dhabi hardly ever visit a dentist for

general check up as compared to otherregions.

This low frequency of visits is probablyexplained by the fact that since majority ofthis population are expatriates in UAE, theyseek medical attention & care in their homecountries during their vacations to backhome.

3 2 4 2 3 3 3

14 1316

1216 16

6

2221

25

21

24 22

31

1415

12

13

13 16 17

6 67

7

5 75

6

4

6

44

8

36 3732

39 3532 35


Hardly ever or never

Less than five years

Every three to five years

Every coupl e of years

About once a year

Every six months

More than ever y six months

(753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36)

Base:


Figure 16: How often do you go to a dentist for a cleaning/ check up?


29/48


The residents of UAE expect to live a long life

In this culture, it is considered in appropriateto comment about the longevity of ones life.So most people are unsure of how long theyexpect to live or are simply hesitant to

answer it. It can be seen in the figure belowthat while Expat Asians & Westerners aremore confident in guesstimating an age of lifeexpectancy, the Arabs (Nationals & Expats)

are largely non-committal. Among thosewho have certain expectations for lifeexpectancy, they are optimistic of living along life well into their 80s. A noticeable

percentage of 41-50 years grouprespondents believe that they would livepast 90 years of age.

3 4 3 4 3 3 69 9 9 7 9 13

116 5 8 6 6

3 36 7 5 6 6 64 5 3 4 3

5

3

5 5 6 6 6 3

6

67 65 66 67 67 67 71


Don't know / Can't Say

Under 50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

Over 100

(753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36)

Average(In Years)

80.4 80.2 80.9 79.9 79.5 83.3 84.6

Base:


Figure 17: How old do you expect to live to be?

3 5 5 6 49 11

7 1116 17

6 58 3

1 1

107

63

8 7

1 3

8 13

46

41

1 1

610

56

55

6 5

63

1

67 6963

68

91 89

48 46


Don't know / Can't Say

Under 50

51-60

61-70

71-80

81-90

91-100

Over 100

All RespondentsFigs in %Base:

(753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70)

Average

(In Years) 80.4 78.3 81.0 83.4 64.1 63.5 83.0 82.3

Figure 18: How old do you expect to live to be?


30/48


Most expect to live as long as their parents did if not more

Again, its a strong cultural issue whereinone is not expected to overtly say that theywill live well past their parents age. Thus

most people do not have an estimate ofhow long they would live as a comparison

of their parents age. Of those who have anidea about their life expectancy, majoritybelieve that their lives would be about thesame length as their parents or bit longerthan that.

8 8 9 7 10 7 3

17 17 17 18 15 21

11

3 4 2 3 3 1

6

72 71 72 72 72 7180


Dont know how longI will live

A shorter life than myparents

About the samelength as my parents

A longer life than myparents

(753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36)

I expect to live

Base:


Figure 19: Do you expect to live?

Again, more Nationals & Expat Arabs areunsure about how long they will live whencompared to Expat Asians & Westerners.Expat Asians and Westerners believe that

they would live the same length as parents,however, National and Expat Arabs are not

too sure about this.

8 8 9 71

157

17 18 1813

3 5

27

33

3 5 2

0

3 4

3 3

72 69 7180

93 91

55 57


Dont know how long Iwill live

A shorter lif e thanparents

About the same lengthas parents

A longer life thanparents


Base:(753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70)

Figure 20: Do you expect to live?


31/48


There is high curiosity about medical conditions unknown &

future ones

Knowledge about Terminal DiseasesA vast majority of UAE residents areinterested in finding out about it were theyto have any terminal diseases. This isuniform across the demographics. Nationals

are least curious to know about Terminaldiseases that they may have followed byExpat Arabs; Expat Asians & Westernersare much more curious about it.

88 88 87 88 87 88 89

12 12 13 12 13 12 11


No, I don't want toknow if I had aterminal disease

Yes, I want toknow if I had aterminal disease

(753) (453) (300) (340) (262) (115) (36)

Base:


Figure 21: If you had a terminal disease, would you want to know?


32/48


Knowledge about Future IllnessAgain, over 90% are interested in knowing ifthey were to have illness or healthconditions in future. This curiosity is more

so among older age groups and mencompared to their counterparts.

92 94 90 91 9196 97

8 6 10 9 94 3


No, I don't want toknow about futureillness o r condition

Yes, I want to knowabout future illnessor condition


Figure 22: Want to know about future medical illness or condition in advance?


33/48


V. The Different Health Personalities:A Segmentation Analysis

The analysis of attitudes related to managing ones health and well-being classified people intofour general groups:

Health CommittedProactive about their health and willing to try new approaches.

Doctor DependentsPassive about health management. They are remorsefully unfit, but stillfollow doctors orders.

Well-Being Self-GovernersAvoids doctors and hospitals, prefers self health management.

Health Traditionalists - Does what the doctor says, but only to a certain degree. They aregenerally healthy, but not necessarily physically fit.

Summary of Key

Differences byGroup

Well-Being

Self-Governors25%

Health

Traditionalists46%

Doctor

Dependents16%

Health

Committed13%

Good OverallHealth & Well-

being?High Moderate Low High

Fit? Very High Very Low Low Moderate

Follows Dr Orders? Low Low High High

Use of Technology? Low Low Low High

Seeks Health Info? Low Low High High

Seeks Alternatives

to Rx?Low Low Low Low

Demographics

Age Skews 21-30yrs37% 21-30yrs40% 31-40yrs43% 21-30yrs46%

Gender Skews Male Male Male No Skew

Emirate Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Dubai Dubai

The IndicesBy Clusters

Summary of KeyDifferences

by Group

TotalWell-Being

Self-

Governors

HealthTraditionalists

DoctorDependents

HealthCommitted

Total Index 88% 90% 89% 84% 85%

Job Index 75% 80% 79% 73% 61%

Community 88% 89% 89% 81% 89%

Physical 93% 96% 95% 82% 95%

Well Being 94% 95% 94% 91% 95%

Friends & Family 93% 93% 93% 92% 90%


34/48


Summary of Key Differences by GroupWell-being

Self-Governers

HealthTradition-

-alists

DoctorDependents

HealthCommitt

d

Cluster Size 25% 46% 16% 13%

Health and Well-Being

Overall sense of Health & Wellbeing 60% 50% 28% 56%

Fitness

I believe I am the healthiest I can be for my age 100% 0% 10% 52%

I'm in better shape now than ever before 18% 15% 12% 43%

I don't exercise as much as I think I should 11% 9% 62% 3%

Physician Directed Health Management

I usually do whatever the Doctor tells me 5% 12% 61% 88%I always go for the medical tests I'm supposed totake

6% 5% 48% 38%

I don't think I go to the Doctor as much as I

should 4% 16% 14% 36%I usually avoid going to the Doctor as much aspossible

24% 24% 2% 2%

I would much prefer to do my own medical testsat home

3% 5% 3% 0%

If I don't like what a Doctor says, I ignore it 4% 3% 3% 7%

I'm nervous/skeptical about going to the hospital 1% 4% 8% 8%

Health and Technology

I wish I could just email my Doctor when I havequestions

3% 3% 17% 39%

I would communicate with my Doctor more often

if I didn't have to make a trip 2% 4% 15% 24%I expect medical technology to keep me healthy toa ripe old age

13% 8% 18% 54%

I am eager try new gadgets or devices aimed atimproving my health and wellbeing

4% 8% 11% 24%

Health Engagement

I go to the Doctor regularly 5% 11% 56% 37%I like to stay on top of health-related news andinformation

17% 11% 25% 41%

If I don't like what a Doctor says, I go for a secondopinion

7% 11% 20% 37%

Treatment AffinityI believe in non-traditional forms of medicine suchas acupuncture and herbal treatments

4% 8% 10% 11%

I don't always take the medicine I'm prescribed 2% 3% 2% 5%I believe most health problems get better if yougive them time

18% 17% 14% 20%


35/48


The 4 SegmentsA Discussion

Well-being Self-Governers

This group of people feels the healthiest for their age. They believe health has improved quite alot over the past few years. They also strongly believe that good health is up to personal effortand discretion.

They barely visit their doctors regularly and are least curious to find out about any terminaldiseases that they may have.

They believe that they are in very good shape and not overweight at all. Among the few whoconsider themselves overweight, changing their eating habits is the most popular option tolosing weight. Doing exercises also as an important option for them.

They do not believe they are too stressed and do not believe in taking medicines for stress.They believe technology has improved almost all aspects of life.

Health Traditionalists

This cluster of people does not believe they are very healthy. Further they also think that theyhave very little control over their health and thus there is very little they can do to improve it.However, they feel their health has improved quite a bit over the past few years.

They do not visit their doctors regularly but are interested in finding out if they were to haveillness or health conditions in future.

They believe Technology has improved critical elements of life such as security, communication,education & medicine. Technology pertaining to food & diet is perceived to find greater usageamongst them.

They also are most tech savvy who believe most of the technological products are easy to use.

Doctor Dependents

These people have the lowest Index Scores. Except Job Index for all the other 5 indices theyhave the lowest scores.

They have the lowest rating on overall health & well being and predictably, feel their health hasdeteriorated over the recent times. Nearly a 5th of them seem to be potentially facing serioushealth problems and also using medication to fight anxiety & stress.

Many people from this cluster do not believe that good health is up to personal effort anddiscretion. Their lifestyle habits further exacerbates their larger sense of ill-healtheven thoughthey strongly believe they are overweight and hope to lose weight, they are least willing to do


36/48


any physical exercises to address it. They much rather change their eating habits and go on adiet program than take up active lifestyle.

They are highly dependant on their doctors word and thus visit them regularly. They also

complain about sleeplessness caused largely due to stress & worries. They believe they are muchmore stressed than the average UAE resident.

They are very pro-technology and believe it has improved almost all aspects of their life. Sincemost of these people want to monitor their food & diet to usher in a healthy lifestyle,technology pertaining to food & diet is perceived to find greater usage.

Health Committed

These people believe their health has remained largely same and good health is up to personaleffort and discretion.

They rate their health quite high and maintain a very active lifestyle with high amount of exercise

on a regularly basis. They also come across as chronic hypochondriacs who seek and have thehighest interaction with doctors. In spite of visiting their doctors regularly, they believe that theydont visit them enough. They are also most prone to get second opinions from other doctorson many occasions.

Understandably healthcare costs are most stressful to them. They are highly curious to find outabout terminal diseases or any illness or health conditions in the future. Nearly a 5th of thisgroup complains about lack of sleep and it is largely due to lifestyle issues.

Of the 4 groups, they are most inclined towards using technology that can improve ones moodor reduce stress. People across the clusters believe technology has improved almost all aspectsof life.


37/48


26 25 2819

3227

50

74 75 7281

6873

50


No, I don't think I amoverweight



2621

29 3023

28 2720

7479

71 7077

72 7380


No, I dont think I am

overweight



Base:(753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70)

VI. Body Weight

Perceptions on Body Weight

At the over all level nearly 3/4th of thepeople in UAE believe they are of correctbody weight; only a quarter believe they areoverweight.

Across both genders and all age groupsexcept for the age group of 51-60 yearsmajority of the respondents say that theyare not overweight.

Figure 23: Do you consider yourself to be overweight?

When looking across regions andnationalities, majority of respondentsbelieve that they are not overweight.

Respondents from Abu Dhabi and ExpatWesterns were the highest in claiming thattheir body weight is correct.

Figure 24: Do you consider yourself to be overweight?


38/48


34 32 36 30 3138

53

21 23 18

22 19

22

2111 11 12 19

7

9

5

8 512

14

8

77

7

5

89

56

7

53

6

13 54 4

4

8

39 11

6 713

611


Others

Go on diet program

Eat lower carbohydrates

Stop/cut down eatingfast food

Stop/cut down eating

sweets

Increase exercise

Eat lower fat

Eat lower calories

Base: (197) (112) (85) (63) (83) (32) (19**)All Respondents who considers themselves to be overweightFigs in %** Base is Small

Diet Control a preferred way to lose weight than take up Exercise

Amongst both genders and across all agegroups, the most considered options tolose weight are to eat fewer calories andfats. Exercise is accepted well in theyounger age groups than others. Whencomparing regions nationalities the results

were nearly the same as of genders and agegroups i.e. eat fewer calories and fats tolose weights. However exercise is morepopular in Expat Asians and WesternExpats.

Figure 25: To lose weight, which of the following would you do?


39/48


89 88 88 90 89 85 86

11 12 12 10 11 16 14


No, I don't getenough sleep

Yes, I get enoughsleep


89 91 87 8882 79

95 96

11 9 13 1218 21

5 4


No, I dont getenough sleep

Yes, I getenough sleep


Base:(753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70)

VII. Healthy sleeping habits without major

concerns

Nearly 9 out of 10 residents of UAE say

that they get enough sleep. A comparativelyhigher percentage of Lack of sleep is sleep isseen amongst the respondents of age group41-50 years.Across regions, majority of the respondents

say that they get enough sleep, but when

nationalities are compared, a relatively highrate (21%) of Expat Arabs complain of notgetting sufficient sleep at night. Lifestyle,work pressure & stress are seen to be themajor reasons for lack of sleep.

Figure 26: Do you get enough sleep each night?

Figure 27: Do you get enough sleep each night?


40/48


60 58 6165

56 54 53

26 2726

24

3025 31

11 12 109 10

18 11

3 3 3 2 3 3 6


Very stressed

Somewhat stressed

Onl y a little stressed

Not at all stressed


60 59 60 61

49 51

6772

26 27 27 24

33 29

2321

11 12 9 13 1513

9 63 2 4 2 3 7

1 1


Very stressed

Somewhat stressed

Only a little stressed

Not at all stressed

All RespondentsFigs in %Base:

(753) (300) (302) (151) (145) (194) (344) (70)

VIII. Stressors & Worries

Low stress levels

A very small percentage of people in UAEbelieve they are under stress. Older people

believe they are more under slightly morestress than younger people but this too is arelatively small percentage of thatdemographicover 80% of them feel thereis little or no stress. Expat Westerners &Asians are least stressed while Nationals &Expat Arabs are relatively more stressed.

Job and job related issues are the mostcommon factors causing

stress. This can be validated form therecent recession seen in the UAE, whereby

many people had lost their jobs due todownsizing or closure of business.

Social factors such as economy, crime leveland politics are other factors mounting thestress levels of residents in UAE.

Figure 28: How stressed do you consider yourself to be?

Figure 29: How stressed do you consider yourself to be?


41/48


85

80

80

78

76

70

69

68

68

67

64

63

62

54

12

18

18

19

22

23

22

26

24

25

33

28

27

31

3

2

2

2

2

3

6

5

4

7

3

6

9

12

1

3

1

1

1

2

1

2

1

2

4

1

1

1

Local hospitals

Availability of emp loyment

Safety and crime rate

Access to healthcare facilities

Quality of roads

Garbage pick-up

Local schools

Parks and recreation facilities

Pollution and smog

Cable service

Availability of shopping and grocery stores

Local government

Distance to your place of em ployment

Access to arts and culture

Very Important

Somewhat Important

Neither Important norUnimportant

Somewhat Unimportant

Not important at all


IX. Community

Health & Safety the biggest factors in determining community to

live in

Health related aspects such as hospitals &health care facilities are important driversaffecting preferred communities to live inclosely followed by career/job opportunities

and overall safety of the locality. Otherimportant drivers are the quality of roads,schools, parks and availability of grocerystores and shopping plazas.

Figure 30: When you think of the community you would most like to live in, how important are?

[Single Answer]


42/48


The below table illustrates the hierarchy offactors considered by people in UAE whilepreferring a community.

Healthcare, Safety, and Employment

opportunities are by far the most importantcriteria across all demographic & regionalbreaks. Its interesting to note that whileAvailability of work opportunities is amongthe top criteria, the distance from the office

is quite low on the priority list becausemost of the people in UAE are accustomedto traveling long distances for work butmuch rather living in a more carefullychosen neighborhood that provides the

required amenities.

Arts & Cultural centres are very much atthe bottom of the reckoning!

TotalAbu

Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Male FemaleSECA/B

SECC1

SECC2

Below30

years31 - 40years

41 - 50years

51 - 60years

Local hospitals 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8

Safety and crime rate 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8

Availability of employment 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8

Access to healthcare facilities 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.8

Quality of roads 4.7 4.8 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.7 4.7 4.8

Availability of shoppingand grocery stores

4.6 4.7 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.7 4.6 4.7 4.6 4.5 4.5

Parks and recreation facilities 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.7 4.6 4.7 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.9

Garbage pick-up 4.6 4.7 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.6

Cable service 4.6 4.7 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.7

Local schools 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.6 4.7

Pollution and smog 4.5 4.4 4.6 4.7 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.4

Local government 4.5 4.3 4.6 4.6 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.4 4.6

Distance to your placeof employment

4.5 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.5 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.4

Access to arts and culture 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.3 4.5

VeryImportant

[5]

SomewhatImportant

[4]

Neither ImportantNor Unimportant

[3]

SomewhatUnimportant

[2]

Notimportant at all

[1]

Figure 31: When you think of the community you would most like to live in, how important are?[Single Answer]


43/48


55

52

49

44

44

42

42

40

36

35

31

26

23

20

29

40

46

52

45

52

51

51

50

54

46

42

25

26

9

7

4

4

10

5

6

8

11

8

17

22

27

27

7

1

1

1

1

1

1

3

2

6

10

25

26

Completely Agree

Somewhat Agree

Somewhat Disagree

Completely Disagree

Medical technology will allow me to live longer

Know how to use all features on my Smart phone

Internet has made my lif e better

Technological advancements will fundamentally change ourhomes in next 10 years

Lighting can significantly effect on my sense of health

My lifestyle improves as new technologies are created

I am responsible for figuring out the best technologies that canimprove my sense of health

I get really excited when new technologies come out

Social media have made my life better

Time I reach the age where I expect to have serious healthissues

When have health concern, usually check the in ternet first

Concerned that proliferation of things as Facebook will reducemy privacy

Technology has m ade life more stressful

I wish there was less technology in my life


Philips Health Well Being Index UAE English

Documents

Transcript of Philips Health Well Being Index UAE English