Health Needs Survey: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Summer 1975. Rural Health Staff Papers - Paper No. 12.

In July and August 1975, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 347 adults living in Indiana County, Pennsylvania to gather information on the health services needed, physician extenders (i.e., nurse practitioners and physician's assistants), adequate health care for everyone, and regular health habits of the population. The sample included 114 adults from the northern part of the county, 114 from the central area, and 119 from the southern region. After the results were compiled, statistical weightings were given to the different regions, which had been sampled at different rates, to make the results representative of the county as a whole. Findings included: 87% of the people felt that the availability of doctors was in need of improvement for Indiana County; availability of doctors was especially of concern in the more rural northern and southern regions; 86% indicated that they had a family doctor; of the 14% who did not have a family doctor, most said no doctor was available in the area or that one was not needed; 74% stated that they would usually or always be willing to accept help from a physician extender working under the direct supervision of a doctor; 67% reported that they regularly did things to stay healthy; 25% rated their health as very good, 45% as good, 22% as average, and 8% as not so good or poor; and regular exercising was the most often mentioned health activity. (NQ)