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International Journal of Public Health

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01-02-2014 | Original Article

Association between variables used in the field substitution and post-stratification adjustment in the Belgian health interview survey and non-response

Authors: Johan Van der Heyden, Stefaan Demarest, Koen Van Herck, Dirk De Bacquer, Jean Tafforeau, Herman Van Oyen

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 1/2014

Abstract

Objectives

Field substitution and post-stratification adjustment have been proposed to reduce non-response bias in population surveys. We investigated if variables involved in those techniques in the Belgian health interview survey 2004 are associated with non-response and assessed the impact of field substitution and post-stratification adjustment on the survey results.

Methods

Data were obtained from all selected households (n = 12.204). The association between non-response and the selected variables was explored through multilevel logistic regression models with municipality and statistical sector as random effects.

Results

All investigated variables were significantly related with non-response. Especially households that could not be contacted differed substantially from those who participated. Only post-stratification had a clear impact on the survey results.

Conclusions

Even if variables used in the field substitution procedure of health surveys are strongly associated with non-response, the impact of field substitution on the survey results may be minimal, either because there was no bias of relevance or it was not captured. The usefulness of field substitution to correct for non-response bias in population health surveys seems to be quite limited.

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Title: Association between variables used in the field substitution and post-stratification adjustment in the Belgian health interview survey and non-response
Authors: Johan Van der Heyden
Stefaan Demarest
Koen Van Herck
Dirk De Bacquer
Jean Tafforeau
Herman Van Oyen
Publication date: 01-02-2014
Publisher: Springer Basel
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 1/2014
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-013-0460-7

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Association between variables used in the field substitution and post-stratification adjustment in the Belgian health interview survey and non-response

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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