McMinn, M. A. , Martikainen, P., Härkänen, T., Tolonen, H., Pitkänen, J., Leyland, A. H. and Gray, L. (2023) Adjustment for survey non-participation using record linkage and multiple imputation: a validity assessment exercise using the Health 2000 survey. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 51(2), pp. 215-224. (doi: 10.1177/14034948211031383) (PMID:34396808) (PMCID:PMC7614246)
Text
244205.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. 203kB | |
Text
244205Suppl.pdf - Supplemental Material 211kB |
Abstract
Aims: It is becoming increasingly possible to obtain additional information about health survey participants, though not usually non-participants, via record linkage. We aimed to assess the validity of an assumption underpinning a method developed to mitigate non-participation bias. We use a survey in Finland where it is possible to link both participants and non-participants to administrative registers. Survey-derived alcohol consumption is used as the exemplar outcome. Methods: Data on participants (85.5%) and true non-participants of the Finnish Health 2000 survey (invited survey sample N=7167 aged 30-79 years) and a contemporaneous register-based population sample (N=496,079) were individually linked to alcohol-related hospitalisation and death records. Applying the methodology to create synthetic observations on non-participants, we created ‘inferred samples’ (participants and inferred non-participants). Relative differences (RDs) between the inferred sample and the invited survey sample were estimated overall and by education. Five per cent limits were used to define acceptable RDs. Results: Average weekly consumption estimates for men were 129 g and 131 g of alcohol in inferred and invited survey samples, respectively (RD –1.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI) –2.2 to –0.04%) and 35 g for women in both samples (RD –1.1%; 95% CI –2.4 to –0.8%). Estimates for men with secondary levels of education had the greatest RD (–2.4%; 95% CI –3.7 to –1.1%). Conclusions: The sufficiently small RDs between inferred and invited survey samples support the assumption validity and use of our methodology for adjusting for non-participation. However, the presence of some significant differences means caution is required.
Item Type: | Articles |
---|---|
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | McMinn, Dr Megan and Gray, Dr Linsay and Leyland, Professor Alastair |
Authors: | McMinn, M. A., Martikainen, P., Härkänen, T., Tolonen, H., Pitkänen, J., Leyland, A. H., and Gray, L. |
College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU |
Journal Name: | Scandinavian Journal of Public Health |
Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
ISSN: | 1403-4948 |
ISSN (Online): | 1651-1905 |
Published Online: | 14 August 2021 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2021 The Authors |
First Published: | First published in Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 51(2): 215-224 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record