Tolonen Hanna, Koponen Päivikki, Borodulin Katja, Männistö Satu, Peltonen Markku, Vartiainen Erkki
Department of Public Health Solutions, National Institute of Health and Welfare, Finland.
Scand J Public Health. 2018 Mar;46(2):240-243. doi: 10.1177/1403494817725243. Epub 2017 Aug 26.
A high participation rate is considered as a prerequisite for representative survey results, especially when it is known that non-participation is selective. In many countries migration is increasing and the proportion of people speaking other language(s) than the official language(s) of the country is also increasing. How does this affect survey participation rates?
Data from four cross-sectional health examination surveys (the FINRISK Study) were used to evaluate the effect of the registered mother tongue to participation in the survey.
Finland has two official languages (Finnish and Swedish). Between 1997 and 2012, the proportion of the population with some other language as their registered mother tongue has increased significantly. Participation rates in the health surveys have been highest among the Finnish language group (68% in men in 1997 and 76% in women in 1997), while lowest among the foreign language group (43% in men in 1997 and 57% in women in 1997). In 2012, the participation rates had declined in all language groups: for men, 58%, 62% and 41% for Finnish, Swedish and foreign groups respectively, and for women 68%, 75% and 56%.
The participation rate for the foreign language group was significantly lower than for the Finnish and Swedish groups. In future surveys it will be important to include actions to promote participation, e.g. providing survey material in several languages. These actions will increase costs but will be essential to ensure high participation rates and reliable results for the total population.
高参与率被视为获得具有代表性调查结果的前提条件，尤其是当已知不参与具有选择性时。在许多国家，移民数量不断增加，使用该国官方语言以外其他语言的人口比例也在上升。这对调查参与率有何影响？
利用四项横断面健康检查调查（芬兰全国心血管风险因素流行率跟踪调查）的数据来评估登记母语对调查参与率的影响。
芬兰有两种官方语言（芬兰语和瑞典语）。1997年至2012年间，登记母语为其他语言的人口比例显著增加。健康调查的参与率在芬兰语群体中最高（1997年男性为68%，女性为76%），而在外语群体中最低（1997年男性为43%，女性为57%）。2012年，所有语言群体的参与率均有所下降：男性中，芬兰语、瑞典语和外语群体的参与率分别为58%、62%和41%，女性中分别为68%、75%和56%。
外语群体的参与率显著低于芬兰语和瑞典语群体。在未来的调查中，采取促进参与的行动很重要，例如提供多种语言的调查问卷。这些行动会增加成本，但对于确保总体人口的高参与率和可靠结果至关重要。
