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221219P - CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDIES 3: HEALTH SURVEYS

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Presented at CRC course KFMC on December 19, 2022. By Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr. MB ChB (MUK), MPH (Harvard), DrPH (Harvard) Professor of Epidemiology and Bioethics

 

INTRODUCTION:

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.