title: Finnish experiences of health monitoring: local, regional, and national data sources for policy evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Finland has a long tradition of gathering information about the health and welfare of the adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Welfare, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; katri.kilpelainen@thl.fi.
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kilpeläinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Welfare, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Suvi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parikka
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Päivikki
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koponen
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koskinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Welfare, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuulia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rotko
authors.affiliation: Department of Welfare, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koskela
authors.affiliation: Department of Information Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gissler
mesh_terms: D019992:Databases as Topic; D005387:Finland; D014943:Global Health; D006291:Health Policy; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D012042:Registries; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Finland; health determinants; health monitoring