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220905P - CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES 3: HEALTH SURVEYS

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Presented at a Webinar on Research Methodology in Health Sciences at Northern Area Armed Forces Hospital (NAAFH) on 5th September 2022. By Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr. MB ChB (MUK). MPH (Harvard), DrPH (Harvard) Professor of Epidemiology and Bioethics


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, and assessment of 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.