The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (UT DHHS) partnered with MDR to conduct the 2025 Public Trust Survey, the first in a potential five-year series. The survey was designed to assess how Utah residents perceive the department’s mission, services, and overall effectiveness. It also aimed to measure levels of public trust in UT DHHS, awareness and use of its programs, and attitudes toward specific service areas such as disease control, social services, child and family services, juvenile justice, and behavioral and mental health.
MDR implemented a mixed-mode data collection strategy that included both online and telephone surveys. A total of 663 surveys were completed, with 140 conducted by phone. The survey instrument featured approximately 30 questions covering trust in health information sources, familiarity with UT DHHS services, and perceptions of the department’s responsiveness and transparency. Open-ended questions were included to gather qualitative insights, and demographic questions supported subgroup analysis.
The sampling strategy targeted Utah residents aged 18 and older, with a specific requirement that at least 21% of respondents reside in rural or frontier counties. These included Beaver, Box Elder, Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Wasatch, Washington, and Wayne. Telephone interviews were conducted using both landlines and cell phones, with up to six and eight call attempts respectively. Spanish-language interviews were also offered to ensure inclusivity.
MDR managed all aspects of the survey, including questionnaire development, sampling design, data collection, interviewer training, and quality control. The firm oversaw call center operations and respondent engagement protocols such as refusal conversion and callback procedures. All data were collected anonymously and reported in aggregate to protect respondent confidentiality.
This project is distinguished by its comprehensive approach to measuring public trust in a state health agency and its commitment to reaching diverse populations across Utah. The findings will help UT DHHS enhance public engagement, improve service delivery, and strengthen its reputation as a trusted provider of health and human services.
