To record the medical condition of the Viennese public thoroughly for the first time, the city of Vienna has commissioned the Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) to plan and conduct the Wiener Gesundheits- und Sozialsurveys 2000/2001 (Viennese health- and social surveys 2000/2001). In two survey waves during the winter months of the years 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 4,000 Viennese were orally interviewed on their medical condition. The questions were on the topics of subjective health, chronic and acute illnesses, use of medication and utilisation of medical facilities. At the same time the interviewers posed questions on health-related topics such as lifestyle, socio-economic situation, working environment, stress, living arrangements, social networks, subjective coping strategies and important personal experiences.