Part of The Health survey for England 2020/2021 Feasibility study
Fieldwork procedures
Communications strategy
Stage one adult survey
Invitation letter
Each sampled address received an invitation letter introducing the survey and inviting up to two adults (aged 16 and over) to take part. The letter contained two log-in codes along with instructions on how to complete the survey online.
Survey leaflet
A survey leaflet was enclosed with the stage one invitation letter. The survey leaflet provided information about the survey including who it was being carried out by, and what happens to collected data. The leaflet also included some findings from previous years of the HSE. Contact details where further questions and information could be sought were also provided in the leaflet.
Reminder strategy
Up to two reminder letters were sent. The first reminder letter was sent to all issued addresses around one week after the initial invitation. The second reminder letter was sent to all non-responding addresses, two to four weeks after the first reminder letter. For stage one, the second reminder letter contained two copies of a paper questionnaire with instructions of how to complete it and send it back. Offering a postal alternative allowed those without internet access to take part in the survey.
Token of appreciation
A £5 ‘love to shop’ voucher was sent, either by email or by post, after completion of the stage one survey. The token of appreciation was mentioned in the invitation letter.
Stage two child survey
Invitation letter
Parents of sampled children aged 0 to 12 received an invitation letter containing information about the survey and inviting them to complete a paper questionnaire about their child. For children aged 8 to 12, the parent’s invitation letter also invited the sampled child(ren) to complete a separate paper questionnaire.
Sampled children aged 13 to 15 received a letter addressed to themselves containing information about the survey and inviting them to complete either an online or a paper questionnaire. A paper questionnaire was sent alongside the invitation letter with instructions on how to complete and send it back. Letters for children aged 13 to 15 also contained a log-in code and instructions on how to complete the survey online.
To ensure participant privacy, children aged 8 to 15 completing a paper questionnaire were requested to seal their questionnaire in an envelope before handing it to a parent to post.
A pen was enclosed with the invitation letter.
Reminder strategy
For stage two, the relevant age-specific paper questionnaire was included with the initial invitation letter. The second reminder letter also included a copy of the relevant questionnaire.
A summary of the participant contact strategy employed on the two stages of the HSE FS is presented in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Participant communication strategy
| Stage one | Stage two | |
|---|---|---|
| Mailing 1 | Initial invitation letter and survey leaflet sent to sampled address with a website link to the questionnaire and two unique access codes |
Initial invitation letter addressed to parent of child aged 0 to 12 or to the named child if aged 13 to 15 Age-specific paper questionnaire included A website link and unique access code was included in the letter for children aged 13 to 15 |
| Mailing 2 | Reminder letter sent to all issued households [9] |
Reminder letter sent to parent of child aged 0 to 12 or to the named child if aged 13 to 15 Age-specific paper questionnaire included |
| Mailing 3 |
Reminder letter sent to non-responding households Two paper questionnaires included |
Reminder letter sent to parent of child aged 0 to 12 or to the named child aged 13 to 15 Age-specific paper questionnaire included |
Last edited: 30 November 2021 12:58 pm