Does survey non-response bias the association between occupational social class and health?
Aims: A non-response rate of 20-40% is typical in questionnaire studies. The authors evaluate non-response bias and its impact on analyses of social class inequalities in health. Methods: Set in the context of a health survey carried out among the employees of the City of Helsinki (non-response 33%)...
| Publicado en: | Scandinavian Journal of Public Health Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 212 - 216 |
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| Autores principales: | , , , |
| Formato: | research Journal Article |
| Publicado: |
Sage Publications Inc.
Mar2007
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| Sumario: | Aims: A non-response rate of 20-40% is typical in questionnaire studies. The authors evaluate non-response bias and its impact on analyses of social class inequalities in health. Methods: Set in the context of a health survey carried out among the employees of the City of Helsinki (non-response 33%) in 2000-02. Survey response and non-response records were linked with a personnel register to provide information on occupational social class and long sickness absence spells as an indicator of health status. Results: Women and employees in higher occupational social classes were more likely to respond. Non-respondents had about 20-30% higher sickness absence rates. Relative social class differences in sickness absence in the total population were similar to those among either respondents or non-respondents. Conclusions: In working populations survey non-response does not seriously bias analyses of social class inequalities in sickness absence and possibly health inequalities more generally. |
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