| Cohort studies | Household panel studies | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
NSHD | NCDS | BHPS | UKHLS | |
Study team | MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing | National Birthday Trust Fund/Centre for Longitudinal Studies | UK Longitudinal Studies Centre | Understanding Society |
Funder | MRC | National Birthday Trust Fund and ESRC | ESRC | ESRC, Department for Health, and others |
Start year of the study | 1946 | 1958 | 1991 | 2009/2010 |
Scope | GB | GB | GB until 2001, then UK | UK |
Sample description | Born in a specific week, mainly British White | Born in a specific week, mainly British White | Cross-section of resident population in 1991, additional regional boosts | Cross-section of resident population in 2009/10, additional ethnic minority boost |
Mode of interview | Postal survey with follow-up home/clinic visit | Face to face interview | Face to face interview | Face to face interview |
Follow-up sequence | At specific points in time | At specific points in time | Annually | Annually |
Health-related content in survey | Most | Some | Some | A little1 |
Number of sweeps before | Â | Â | Â | Â |
• biomarkers collected | None | None | 182 | 1 |
• consent asked | 22 | 7 | 182 | None |
Study advance letter includes references to health record linkage | No3 | Yes | Yes | No |
Consent asked by | No-one if postal survey only, else by research nurse | Trained interviewer | Trained interviewer | Trained interviewer |
Information leaflet about linkage | No3 | Yes, provided in the interview | Yes, sent in advance | Yes, provided in the interview |
Specific types of health data mentioned | GP records; Hospital records | Hospital records; GP records; prescriptions | NHS Central Register data; Hospital records; prescriptions; GP records | NHS Central Register data; Hospital records |