Presented at CRC course KFMC on January 28, 2020 by Prof Omar Hasan Kasule Sr Professor of Epidemiology and Bioethics, King Fahad Medical City.
DEFINITION OF HEALTH SURVEYS
- Surveys involve more subjects than the usual epidemiological sample
- Surveys are used for the measurement of health and disease, assessment of needs, assessment service utilization, and care.
- They may be population or sample surveys.
- Surveys may be cross-sectional or longitudinal.
PLANNING SURVEYS 1: PRELIMINARIES
- literature survey,
- stating objectives,
- identifying and prioritizing the problem,
- formulating a hypothesis
PLANNING SURVEYS 2: SAMPLING
- defining the population,
- defining the sampling frame,
- determining sample size and sampling method,
- The household is the usual sampling unit.
- Sampling may be simple random sampling, systematic sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, or multistage sampling.
PLANNING SURVEYS 3: LOGISTICS
- Training study personnel,
- Considering logistics (approvals, manpower, materials and equipment., finance, transport, communication, and accommodation)
PLANNING SURVEYS 4: DATA COLLECTION
- Preparing and pre-testing the study questionnaire.
- Use existing data
- Collect new data using a questionnaire (postal, telephone, diaries, and interview), physical examinations, direct observation, and laboratory investigations.
- The structure and contents of the survey report are determined by potential readers.
- The report is used to communicate information and also apply for funding.