National public health survey - Health on equal terms

Summary

This recurrent study gives a broad picture of how people at varies ages experiences their health conditions. The voluntary aspect of the study might influence social and other forms of selactions with regard to response rate. A specific analysis of the response rate has been done by Statistics Sweden.

Type of data

Data Source
Survey

Type of Study
Survey different

Data gathering method
Self administered questionnaire

Access to data

Conditions of access
Access to data must be discussed with the principal investigator. Access is only granted following an agreement.

Type of available data (e.g. anonymised microdata, aggregated tables, etc.)
Contact principal investigator.

Formats available
Dataset is compatible.

Coverage

Coverage Years of collection, reference years, and sample sizes
The Swedish National Institute for Public Health annually conducts a national public health survey, Health on Equal Terms, which includes a sample of 20,000 people aged 16-84 years. The survey, which was conducted for the first time in 2004, is an ongoing collaboration between the National Institute for Public Health and county councils/regions in Sweden, and is carried out with help from Statistics Sweden (SCB). Since 2007, the study participants are given the opportunity to complete the survey on the web. There are 8 datasets with the following characteristics: Dataset 001: Health on equal terms 2004 143 variables. 12,166 cases. 60.8% response frequency. 2004-03-01 - 2004-06-30 (Self-completed questionnaire: Paper/pencil) Dataset 002: Healts on equal terms 2005 131 variables. 6,024 cases. 60.3% response frequency. 2005-03-01 - 2005-06-30 (Self-completed questionnaire: Paper/pencil) Dataset 003: Health on equal terms 2006 134 variables. 5,995 cases. 60.1% response frequency. 2006-03-01 - 2006-06-30 (Self-completed questionnaire: Paper/pencil) Dataset 004: Health on equal terms 2007 133 variables. 5,738 cases. 57.5% response frequency. 2007-03-01 - 2007-06-30 (Self-completed questionnaire: Web-based) 2007-03-01 - 2007-06-30 (Self-completed questionnaire: Paper/pencil) Dataset 005: Health on equal terms 2008 135 variables. 11,118 cases. 55.7% response frequency. 2008-03-01 - 2008-06-30 (Self-completed questionnaire: Paper/pencil) 2008-03-01 - 2008-06-30 (Self-completed questionnaire: Web-based) Dataset 006: Health on equal terms 2009 135 variables. 10,373 cases. 52.1% response frequency. 2009-03-01 - 2009-06-30 (Self-completed questionnaire: Paper/pencil) 2009-03-01 - 2009-06-30 (Self-completed questionnaire: Web-based) Dataset 007: Health on equal terms 2010 140 variables. 10,067 cases. 50.6% response frequency. 2010-03-01 - 2010-06-30 (Self-completed questionnaire: Paper/pencil) 2010-03-01 - 2010-06-30 (Self-completed questionnaire: Web-based) Dataset 008: 9,764 cases. 49% response frequency. 2011-04-18 - 2011-06-29 (Self-completed questionnaire: Paper/pencil) 2011-04-18 - 2011-06-29 (Self-completed questionnaire: Web-based

First year of collection
2004

Stratification if applicable
Sample of total population

Base used for sampling

Geographical coverage and breakdowns
The whole country

Age range
Individuals aged 16 -84

Statistical representativeness
Population representative

Coverage of main and cross-cutting topics
The questions in the national public health survey cover physical and mental health, consumption of pharmaceuticals, contact with healthcare services, dental health, living habits, financial conditions, work and occupation, work environment, safety and social relationships. Data was also collected from the national registration such as marital status, country of birth, citizenship and year of immigration in order to reduce the number of questions in the questionnaire. Data from external sources was also collected regarding education (from the education register) and data regarding income, economic support, sickness benefits and pensions (from the income an taxation register). The response rate from 2004-2010 is between 50- 61 per cent.

Linkage

Standardisation
Contact principal investigator.

Possibility of linkage among databases

Data quality

Entry errors if applicable
The validation of the questions primarily comprises construct validity, the question’s metric capacity to differentiate, previous use of the question and the inherent dropout ratio of the question. The objective of a construct validation is to illustrate whether the measure really measures what is intended to be measured. This was done in part through a theoretical review of what is intended to be measured and in part through analyses of whether the question generates expected or meaningful correlations to health status, gender, socio-economic classes and/or ages. The construct validity of each individual question was also tested at Statistics Sweden’s measurements laboratory.

Breaks
The survey is voluntary and done with the purpose to investigate the health in the population and to show changes in the population's health state over time as a follow up of the national health politics. The sample is randomly drawn from the Statistics Sweden's population register and includes 20,000 people aged 16-84 years. The personal data is confidential and protected by law and those working with this survey are obliged to practice professional secrecy. Individual answers can not be identified in the results. The questionnaire includes some 70 questions on a total of 16 pages. Each county council has its own introduction letter and the questions has been prepared in collaboration with representatives from a number of different community medicine units.

Consistency of terminology or coding used during collection
The origin and quality of the questions are described in the report "Objective and background of the questions in the national public health survey". Most questions recur each year, but questions can in particular cases be replaced by other questions of good quality and national relevance.

Governance

Contact information
Anna Bessö / Department for follow-up and evaluation
Swedish National Public Health Institute

831 40 Östersund Sweden Phone: +4663-19 96 64
Email: Anna.besso(at)fhi.se
Url: http://www.fhi.se/en/Highlights/National-Survey-of-Public-Health/

Timeliness, transparency
Data access to be discussed with principal investigator.