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Table 1 Sampling in seven national health examination surveys in Europe

From: Sample selection, recruitment and participation rates in health examination surveys in Europe – experience from seven national surveys

Survey

Year(s) of the survey

Sampling frame

Target population

Sample selection

Original sample size

Eligible sample size

% of sample ineligible

Ineligibility criteria

England – Health Survey for England

2011

Address file – the small user Postcode Address File

People of all ages living in private households.

1. Random sample of postcode sectors, stratified by region and % non-manual occupation.

8 992 households

8 088 households

10 %

Business or institutions, vacant buildings, demolished buildings, building still being built.

2. Random sample of private addresses within selected postcode sectors from the Postcode Address File.

3. Up to 10 adults and two children in each selected household.

Finland – FINRISK Study

2012

Population register

People aged 25–74 years living in five regions of Finland.

A random sample of individuals stratified by sex, 10-year age group and five regions.

10 000 individuals

9 905 individuals

1 %

Died, moved away from research area.

Germany – DEGS

2008-2011

Local population registers

People aged 18–79 years and living in Germany.

Participants of former survey the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998 (GNHIES98) plus new random sample:

17 117 individuals

15 974 individuals

7 %

For new sample:

Died, moved away from research area.

Unable to understand basic German.

1. Random sample of points within Germany.

For re-invited participants from GNHIES98:

2. Random sample of individuals within these points.

Died or moved abroad.

Ireland – SLAN

2007

Address file – the GeoDirectory

People aged 18 years and over living in private households.

1. Random sample of sampling points based on aggregates of townlands.

19 185 households for interview

16 681 households for interview

13 %

Vacant buildings, non-residential building, demolished building, address which could not be located.

18–44 years old had questionnaire and anthropometric measurements at home. 45+ years old were invited to the more extensive examination at the examination centre.

2. Systematic sample of addresses within selected sampling points.

3. A selection of a person within household by simple randomization procedure by next birthday rule.

Italy – OEC/HES

2008-2012

Population register

People aged 35–79 years, living in the 20 Italian Regions.

Screening centres selected in each region based on availability of personnel, space, laboratory facilities and willingness to collaborate on study. Within each selected municipality of screening centre, a random sample of participants was selected by age-group and sex.

17 052 individuals

16 447 individuals

4 %

Undelivered letter, died, emigrates, working outside the residence area for all survey period.

Netherlands – NLdeMaat

2009-2010

Population register

People aged 18–70 years (phase I) and 30–70 years (phase II) living in five Dutch towns.

1. Division of country into five regions.

15 000 individuals

14 163 individuals

6 %

Diet, moved away from the region.

2. Random sample of three sampling points (towns) from each region.

3. Random sample individuals stratified by sex and 10-year age group.

Scotland – Scottish Health Survey

2010

Address file – the small user Postcode Address File

People of all ages living in private households.

1. Random sample of postcode sectors, stratified by area and deprivation.

8 382 households (2 194 households for nurse visit)

7 564 households

10 %

Business or institutions, vacant buildings, demolished buildings, building still being built.

2. Random sample of private addresses within selected postcode sectors.

3. All adults and up to two children in each selected household.