Abstract：
BACKGROUND: The local Health Interview Study (LHIS) was developed to gain health information at the level of the municipality in Flanders, the northern part of Belgium. It enables municipalities to make evidence-based decisions in their public health policy. To test the feasibility of implementing the LHIS, a pilot study was conducted in Melle, a small Flemish municipality with 11.736 inhabitants.
METHODS: The target sample size was 1000 (≥ 15 years). A systematic sampling technique was applied with substitutes for non-respondents who were matched in terms of statistical sector, age and sex. Selected persons were contacted by post to complete the questionnaire and in case of non-response, a reminder was sent. Questionnaires were collected using a concurrent mixed-mode design: a paper and pencil, and web option. All questions were selected from the Belgian Health Interview Survey relating to health status and determinants of health.
RESULTS: One thousand twenty-two questionnaires were obtained after inviting 3137 individuals (response rate = 32.6%). Older adults were more likely to participate than younger adults, and women more than men. The final sample resembled the initial sample in terms of sex and statistical sector, but not in terms of age. Younger adults were underrepresented whereas older adults were overrepresented. Lastly, older adults were more likely to fill in the questionnaire on paper than younger adults, and women more than men.
CONCLUSIONS: The LHIS can be successfully implemented in Flemish municipalities. The method, however, does not guarantee that the composition of the final sample reflects the initial sample. Therefore, weights should be added in the analyses to correct for potential deviations in sample composition. Furthermore, implementing a sequential mixed-mode design with a web option preceding a paper and pencil option in future studies could reduce costs and improve data quality.
METHODS: The target sample size was 1000 (≥ 15 years). A systematic sampling technique was applied with substitutes for non-respondents who were matched in terms of statistical sector, age and sex. Selected persons were contacted by post to complete the questionnaire and in case of non-response, a reminder was sent. Questionnaires were collected using a concurrent mixed-mode design: a paper and pencil, and web option. All questions were selected from the Belgian Health Interview Survey relating to health status and determinants of health.
RESULTS: One thousand twenty-two questionnaires were obtained after inviting 3137 individuals (response rate = 32.6%). Older adults were more likely to participate than younger adults, and women more than men. The final sample resembled the initial sample in terms of sex and statistical sector, but not in terms of age. Younger adults were underrepresented whereas older adults were overrepresented. Lastly, older adults were more likely to fill in the questionnaire on paper than younger adults, and women more than men.
CONCLUSIONS: The LHIS can be successfully implemented in Flemish municipalities. The method, however, does not guarantee that the composition of the final sample reflects the initial sample. Therefore, weights should be added in the analyses to correct for potential deviations in sample composition. Furthermore, implementing a sequential mixed-mode design with a web option preceding a paper and pencil option in future studies could reduce costs and improve data quality.
摘要：
背景：开发了当地健康访谈研究（LHIS），以获取佛兰德市一级的健康信息，比利时北部。它使市政当局能够在其公共卫生政策中做出基于证据的决定。为了测试实施LHIS的可行性，在梅勒进行了一项试点研究，佛兰德的一个小城市，有11.736名居民。
方法：目标样本量为1000（≥15年）。采用系统抽样技术，对统计部门匹配的非受访者进行替代，年龄和性别通过邮寄联系选定的人员以完成问卷，如果没有答复，发出了一个提醒。使用并发混合模式设计收集问卷：纸和铅笔，和Web选项。所有问题均从比利时健康访谈调查中选择，涉及健康状况和健康决定因素。
结果：在邀请3137名个人（回复率=32.6％）后，获得了2000份22份问卷。老年人比年轻人更有可能参与，女人比男人多。最终样本在性别和统计部门方面与初始样本相似，但不是年龄。年轻人的人数不足，而老年人的人数过多。最后,老年人比年轻人更有可能在纸上填写问卷，女人比男人多。
结论：LHIS可以在佛兰德市成功实施。方法,然而,不能保证最终样本的组成反映了初始样本。因此,应在分析中添加重量以校正样品组成中的潜在偏差。此外，在未来的研究中，在纸张和铅笔选项之前使用Web选项实施顺序混合模式设计可以降低成本并提高数据质量。
方法：目标样本量为1000（≥15年）。采用系统抽样技术，对统计部门匹配的非受访者进行替代，年龄和性别通过邮寄联系选定的人员以完成问卷，如果没有答复，发出了一个提醒。使用并发混合模式设计收集问卷：纸和铅笔，和Web选项。所有问题均从比利时健康访谈调查中选择，涉及健康状况和健康决定因素。
结果：在邀请3137名个人（回复率=32.6％）后，获得了2000份22份问卷。老年人比年轻人更有可能参与，女人比男人多。最终样本在性别和统计部门方面与初始样本相似，但不是年龄。年轻人的人数不足，而老年人的人数过多。最后,老年人比年轻人更有可能在纸上填写问卷，女人比男人多。
结论：LHIS可以在佛兰德市成功实施。方法,然而,不能保证最终样本的组成反映了初始样本。因此,应在分析中添加重量以校正样品组成中的潜在偏差。此外，在未来的研究中，在纸张和铅笔选项之前使用Web选项实施顺序混合模式设计可以降低成本并提高数据质量。
