Finnish experiences of health monitoring: local, regional, and national data sources for policy evaluation.

BACKGROUND:Finland has a long tradition of gathering information about the health and welfare of the adult population. DESIGN:Surveys and administrative registers form the basis for national and local health monitoring in Finland. RESULTS:Different data sources are used in Finland to develop key indicators, which can be used to evaluate how the national health policy targets have been met in different parts of the country and in different population subgroups. Progress has been shown in chronic disease risk factors, such as smoking reduction. However, some health policy targets have not been met. Socioeconomic health differences, for example, have remained large compared with other European countries. CONCLUSION:Although data availability for key health indicators is good in Finland, there is a need for wider and more comprehensive use of this information by political decision-makers and healthcare professionals.