Institute for
Health Policy

Our research 

Bridging the gap between policy and practice

Current areas of focus include: improving the evidence base of health policymaking, population studies on health needs, enhancing regulatory science and environmental health policy, innovations in interprofessional education for the next generation of health professionals, and access to health care, both nationally and internationally. The Institute for Health Policy has also been an active participant in the Texas Public Health Policy Forum, the 2005 BioTexas Summit, the 2004 Media Science Forum and Research! America.

City and state analysis

• 2018 Harvey Report press release. 
• The State of Health in Houston/Harris County Executive Summary 2012 
• Public Health Impact of Heat Exposure 

Knowledge translation 

• 2010 IHP Annual Report Research Into Action Project
• 2008 IHP Annual Report Research Into Action Project
• Research Into Action (RIA) Brochure
• Research Into Action: Building A Community of Knowledge Translation Professionals
• Translation and Dissemination paper

Substance use

• Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment booklet
• Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment presentation
• Cigarette Taxes and Their Proposed Uses: Support Among Smokers and Nonsmokers in Different Income Groups in Texas

Air pollution

• A Closer Look at Air Pollution in Houston: Identifying Priority Health Risks (Report of the Mayor’s Task Force on the Health Effects of Air Pollution)
• Health Outcome Databases 

The costs of underinsurance or uninsurance

• Education and Health: A Review and Assessment, taken from Code Red: The Critical Condition of Health in Texas 
• Behavioral Risk Factor Survey Poster: Disparities in Medical Debt and Access to Care 

Noise pollution

• Noise Pollution flyer
• Noise Pollution Research summary

Physical activity

• PASS-CATCH flyer
• PASS-CATCH presentation

Health of Houston Survey

Overview 

The Health of Houston Survey (HHS) is the largest health survey of adults and children in Harris County and the City of Houston. The survey is a valuable source of statistics on health, health care and insurance, cancer screening, mental health, health behaviors and neighborhood conditions at county, city and neighborhood levels. The HHS is used for documenting unmet needs, identifying disparities in health, resource targeting, documenting community benefits and strategic planning. In each survey, a representative sample of residents of the Houston area across sub-county areas, as well as across groups defined by race and ethnicity, poverty level and gender, is selected and interviewed. The first HHS was conducted in 2010, the second was completed in 2018. Survey data is free and accessible through a web-based, interactive and user-friendly interface. You can review our most commonly asked questions in our FAQ Sheet. 

The Houston Endowment and UTHealth supported the survey in 2010. Support for the 2018 survey was provided by:

Houston Endowment
Episcopal Health Foundation
Texas Children’s Hospital
Memorial Hermann Health System
Community Health Choice/Harris Health System
UTHealth, President’s Excellence Fund
UTHealth School of Public Health, Office of the Dean
Texas Medical Center, Health Policy Institute

Maps of Health Indicators

View the Single Indicator Map in InstantAtlas, which includes area percentages, maps and rankings. There is an exporting option available for presentations. For more information about how to use InstantAtlas, click here.

View the Area Profile Map in InstantAtlas, which includes sub-county area profiles. The 2018 data and a new geography of 38 Harris County Public Use Microdata Areas have been added. For updates, please contact us at HealthofHouston@uth.tmc.edu.

Tables and Data

View the data and construct tables in Nesstar. To download the data in Nesstar, complete public use file data agreement form and send it to HealthofHouston@uth.tmc.edu.

PUMA Aggregated Estimates

We have aggregated survey data into 38 US Census Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) to facilitate the use of health indicators at subcounty level. Get the estimates.

HHS Methodology

In 2017-18, HHS employed a dual-frame Random Digit Dialing sample design, using a combination of landline phones and cellphones. Half-way to completion, in August 2017, it had to pause due to Harvey-related flooding. The survey resumed again in February 2018, at which time questions on how the Hurricane impacted the lives of Houstonians, such as flooding and property damage, income, employment, evacuation, assistance/aid and recovery, were added. Few questions that were not part of core questionnaire were eliminated.

• 2018 Methods Report
• 2010 Methods Report

HHS Topics & Questionnaires 

The 2018 questionnaire is largely based in 2010 questions, the core of which we preserved for data comparability across years. New items were solicited via email from all the stakeholders involved in providing topics in 2010 and data users. Flooding from Hurricane Harvey prompted the need to add new Harvey-related questions mid-survey, which were asked to the sample interviewed six to nine months after Harvey.

The HHS questionnaire was created to match the health information needs of organizations that work to improve Houston area residents’ health. In 2009, we invited local organizations and health authorities to provide suggestions on topic priorities. We also solicited suggestions based on community priorities from all Super Neighborhood Councils in the City of Houston and the civic associations. To see a summary of the results of the feedback please see our Input Summary Fact Sheet, or read more about the questionnaire development.

• 2018 Topics
• 2018 Phone (CATI) questionnaire
• 2010 Topics
• 2010 Phone (CATI)/web questionnaire
• 2010 Mail questionnaire

Mapping the Houston Area

HHS 2018 Files

• Mapping the Houston area by PUMAs (Excel file)
• HHS 2018 PUMAs (map)

HHS 2010 Files

• Mapping the Houston area by zip code (Excel file)
• Copies of UTHealth School of Public Health files for mapping programs (zip file)
• Zip code areas (letter-size, legal-size)

Survey Reports

The Health of Houston Survey presentations, reports, questionnaires and survey promotional materials are available for download and printing.

• HHS2018 Summary Report
• HHS2018 Methodology Report
• HHS2010 Summary Report
• HHS2010 Methodology Report
• Stakeholders’ Input Summary
• Assessing Health Information Priorities of Stakeholders and Community Groups in Houston

Publications and presentations with HHS data

Browse a collection of journal articles, fact sheets and presentations using Health of Houston Survey data.

Contact HHS

Key faculty and staff

• Stephen Linder, PhD - Faculty and Principal Investigator
• Dritana Marko, MD - Faculty and Project Director
• Jessica Tullar, PhD - Faculty and Survey Epidemiologist
• Tom Reynolds, PhD - Research and Technical Support
• Patty Poole - Administrative Support

For more information about the Health of Houston Survey, contact Dr. Dritana Marko at Dritana.Marko@uth.tmc.edu or 210-276-9041.

Mailing address

Institute for Health Policy
The University of Texas School of Public Health
P.O. Box 20186
Houston, TX 77225
Email: HealthofHouston@uth.tmc.edu 

News + Media

Media coverage for COVID-19 research

NPR

Interviewed by NPR-affiliated KERA News in Dallas about the lack of COVID-19 testing sites in neighborhoods where higher concentrations of vulnerable populations live. The story was picked up by NPR national, and mentioned on NPR's Morning Edition and the podcast Up First. [Listen to Up First Audio Clip at 10.30 min at story for Texas Testing Disparity]

Leadership Houston

Interviewed by Leadership Houston: Watch A Conversation with Dr. Stephen H. Linder- LH Class XXXVIII Health and Wellness.

Center for Houston’s Future/Rice University

Panel discussion webinar with the Center for Houston’s Future Webcast Series discussing Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act.

Austin

Led research revealing the areas of Texas' major metro cities where residents are at greatest risk for hospitalization and critical care treatment due to COVID-19, that was covered by KXAN-TV Channel 36 in Austin during the 10 p.m.and 4 a.m. The story was shared

Dallas

Interviewed by NBC KXAS-TV Channel 5 in Dallas and the Dallas Morning News about research he led showing what areas of the city have the highest concentration of risk factors for severe and critical cases of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization and intensive care. The story was shared on the station's website. Read more in UTHealth News

Exclusive report and  interview with NBC DFW Channel 5 about the Dallas Neighborhoods at Greatest Risk for Severe COVID-19 Cases

Study discoveries reported in D Magazine, Where Covid-19 is Likely to Strike Hardest in Dallas

Houston

Interviewed by the Houston Chronicle for the areas of Harris County are at highest risk from coronavirus

Interviewed by ABC KTRK Channel 13 for investigating if Texas hospitals are ready for steep rise in COVID-19 cases

Interviewed by The Texas Observer  investigating why "COVID-19 Could Be a ‘Double Whammy’ for Those in Pollution Hotspots" 

Interviewed by ABC KTRK-TV Channel 13 examining what demographic data is important in understanding why the virus is impacting minorities at higher rates.

Wrote a report showing areas of Houston where residents are most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 that was included in a Vice story how the virus affects people who live in areas with higher levels of air pollutants. Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia was quoted about the study

Interviewed by ABC KTRK-Channel 13 differentiating Corona Virus Deaths, explaining why African Americans are making up the majority of COVID-19 deaths in Houston

Interviewed by CBS KHOU-TV Channel 11  showing how UTHealth maps out where high levels of care are likely needed for COVID-19 in large Texas cities. The Institute for Health Policy's study looked at populations of a certain age, and those who have chronic diseases, including heart, lung disease and diabetes.

Reported by MSN News, UTHealth maps out where high levels of care likely needed for COVID-19 in large Texas cities

Interview  by the Center for Houston’s Future Leadership Webcast Series discussing how disparities shape the effects of COVID-19 on various communities. Watch Episode 5: A Conversation with Dr. Stephen Linder

Investigative interview by CBS KHOU-11, 'Disasters do discriminate' | COVID-19 rates higher in poverty or minority Houston-area neighborhoods.  The story was also posted on the KHOU website .

News release issued by the Houston Health Department for “Houston's COVID-19 response focuses on access and equity, contact tracing,” mentions the research led by Linder on the populations in Houston most likely to develop a severe case of COVID-19

Presented the Health of Houston’s Survey on Asian American Population at the Region VI Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Health Summit 2020 for the  Asian American Health Coalition of the Greater Houston Area.

Presented the Health of Houston Survey on Harris County at the Class XXXIX Health & Wellness Learning Session for Leadership Houston

Mapping risk factors for severe COVID-19 in Texas metro areas

The Institute for Health Policy has created maps of the risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 disease for cities and counties in Texas. 

COVID-19 Fact Sheets

Update of COVID-19 Severity in Houston Area Fact Sheet (en)

COVID-19 Severity in Harris County Fact Sheet (en)

COVID-19 Severity in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio Fact Sheet (en)

COVID-19 Severity in Dallas, Austin and San Antonio Fact Sheet (es)

Courses

TMC Health Policy Course 2019

Co-Directors, Stephen H. Linder, Ph.D. and Arthur "Tim" Garson, Jr. MD, MPH, MACC

Weeks 1 - 13

Week 1: Debunking the Health Policy Myths

Week 2: State and Local Health Policy Objectives and Methods

Week 3: How Health Policy is Made

Week 4: Access to Care and Health Insurance Coverage

Week 5: Quality of Care

Week 6: Financing, Payment and Cost

Week 7: Safety Net Programs

Week 8: The Public Health System

Week 9: U.S. Health Policy Methods

Week 10: Social Determinants of Health

Week 11: Ethical Dilemmas in Health Policy

Week 12: Health Care Workforce

Week 13: National Health Reform

TMC Health Policy Course 2018

Co-Directors, Stephen H. Linder, Ph.D. and Arthur "Tim" Garson, Jr. MD, MPH, MACC

Weeks 1 - 13

Week 1:  Beliefs and Myths About U.S. Health Care

Week 2: State and Local Health Policy Objectives and Methods

Week 3: How Health Policy is Made

Week 4: Access to Care and Health Insurance Coverage

Week 5: Financing, Payment, and Cost

Week 6: Quality of Care 

Week 7: Safety Net Programs 

Week 8: The Public Health System

Week 9: U.S. Health Policy Methods

Week 10: Social Determinants of Health

Week 11: Ethical Dilemmas in Health Policy

Week 12: Health Care Workforce

Week 13: National Health Reform