Open AccessImportant Considerations When Analyzing Health Survey Data Collected Using a Complex Sample Design
Author(s) -
Joseph W. Sakshaug,
Brady T. West
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2013.301515
Subject(s) - survey sampling , sample (material) , national health and nutrition examination survey , survey data collection , medical expenditure panel survey , national health interview survey , public health , survey research , environmental health , survey methodology , sampling design , health care , psychology , medicine , family medicine , applied psychology , statistics , political science , nursing , mathematics , population , health insurance , chemistry , chromatography , pathology , law
Researchers often use survey data to answer important public health policy questions. Examples of common data sources used in public health research include the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the National Health Interview Survey, the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, and the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. All these surveys employ a complex sample design to recruit participants into the survey. When performing secondary analyses of complex sample survey data, it is necessary to remind ourselves of the key features of these designs that must be taken into account to produce valid statistical estimates.