A student survey of older people in the Western Isles

A group of six students nearing the end of the Project 2000 Common Foundation Programme became involved in a health and social assessment of the over-75s at a geographically remote GP practice in the Western Isles of Scotland. The aim was to provide a database of the island's population so that care in the community could be implemented more effectively. The methods used included a questionnaire and interviews. The collation of data and some of the interpretation were carried out by the students with support from teaching staff. This is an account of their experience and findings.