Health behaviour and Health among the Finnish Adult Population (AVTK)

Summary

The questionnaire remained essentially the same throughout the years.

Type of data

Data Source
Survey

Type of Study

Data gathering method
Other: postal survey

Access to data

Conditions of access

Type of available data (e.g. anonymised microdata, aggregated tables, etc.)
survey data

Formats available
SAS, SPSS

Coverage

Coverage Years of collection, reference years, and sample sizes
Data collection is ongoing since 1978. Sample size is 5,000 individuals aged 15-64.

First year of collection
1978

Stratification if applicable

Base used for sampling

Geographical coverage and breakdowns
Predefined study regions

Age range
15-64 years old

Statistical representativeness
Population representative

Coverage of main and cross-cutting topics
Detailed information on health and health behaviour of Finnish adult population. Detailed data on: • Health status • Health behaviour (alcohol consumption, smoking, diet, physical activity) • Self-perceived health • Dental health • The use of health services • Socioeconomic status

Linkage

Standardisation

Possibility of linkage among databases
Linkages to other registries require separate applications for permission.

Data quality

Entry errors if applicable

Breaks
This representative postal survey (N= 5000 ) is based on a random sample for the Finnish population aged 15 - 64 years. The data is collected in the predefined study regions. The questionnaire, consistently mailed between April and June, has remained essentially the same over the years. The response rate was 80% when monitoring was first initiated. Nowadays the response rate is slightly under 60%.

Consistency of terminology or coding used during collection

Governance

Contact information
Satu Helakorpi
THL
THL, P.O. Box 30
FI-00271 Helsinki Finland Phone: +358 29 524 6000
Email: satu.helakorpi@thl.fi
Url: http://www.thl.fi/fi_FI/web/fi/tutkimus/hankkeet/avtk

Timeliness, transparency