Healthy Carolinians of Macon County will launch a telephone survey of 400 county residents starting next week.

The question to be answered: Is the health of Macon County getting better or worse?

The survey is part of a comprehensive health assessment under way by the Healthy Carolinians group with the assistance of Stiles Healthcare Strategy, a health-care consulting organization based in Chattanooga, Tenn. The assessment also includes interviews and focus groups with community representatives and health providers.

The 2011 survey will be a follow up to one conducted in 2007, said Kathy McGaha, program director of the Healthy Carolinians of Macon County.  

“The telephone study will give us an opportunity to hear from a large number of local residents, evaluate where we are on a number of health issues and measure our progress over the past few years,” she said.  

Completing the survey will require 15 to 20 minutes. Bilingual interviewers will be involved to facilitate participation by Spanish-speaking residents.