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Monmouth University Poll Finds New Jersey Citizens Believe Chronic Disease

Prevention Key to Cost Savings

TRENTON, N.J., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey of likely voters commissioned by the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease in New Jersey and conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute found that two out of every three of the state's voters believe that chronic disease costs could lead to a new American economic crisis. The survey was conducted and analyzed by the Monmouth University Polling Institute. The telephone interviews were collected by Braun Research on October 15-18, 2008 with a statewide random sample of 900 registered voters.

Other key findings in the poll:

-- A large majority (58%) of New Jersey voters feel that chronic disease treatment is a major factor in the overall cost of our health system and a similar majority (57%) favor government action in this area.

-- After being informed that chronic disease accounts for three-quarters of all health care spending, including about $39 billion a year in New Jersey, 66% say that these costs could lead to a new economic crisis in the nation.

-- To reduce chronic disease treatment costs, 87% favor promoting healthier lifestyles in the education curriculum, 78% favor tax incentives for businesses that offer wellness an prevention programs, and 72% favor requiring that people receiving publicly-funded health care enroll wellness and prevention programs.

-- Four-in-ten voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who advocates for chronic disease prevention policies.

"It is clear that voters desire, indeed expect, public policy makers to invest in chronic disease prevention," said former New Jersey Governor James Florio, Chairman of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Effort in New Jersey. "The good news is that political candidates on both sides of the aisle have responded. In fact, both National P
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