Enhancing Response Rates in Web-Based Surveys: The Impact of Direct Participant Contact.

Achieving a high participation rate is a common challenge in healthcare research based on web-based surveys. A study on local anesthetic systemic toxicity awareness and usage among medical practitioners at two Swiss university hospitals encountered resistance in obtaining personal email addresses from Heads of Departments. Participants were therefore divided into two groups: those who were directly invited via email (personal invitation group) and those who received a generic link through intermediaries (generic link group). The latter group was eventually excluded from survey data analysis. To determine whether one method of survey administration was more effective than another, we carried out a retrospective analysis of response rates and the proportion of new questionnaires completed after initial invitation and subsequent reminders. The results showed significantly higher response rates in the personal invitation group (40.2%, 313/779) compared to the generic link group (25.3%, 22/87), emphasizing the effectiveness of personal invitations on response rate (+14.9%, p = 0.007). The personal invitation group consistently yielded a higher number of completed questionnaires following the initial invitation and each reminder. The method of survey administration can greatly influence response rates and should be acknowledged as a quality criterion when conducting web-based surveys.

Cancer screening programs in Japan: Progress and challenges.

National screening programs for gastric, colorectal, lung, breast, and cervical cancers are offered in Japan. The initial introduction of cancer screening programs was decided based on experts' opinions. Since 2003, the research groups funded by the National Cancer Center have published screening guidelines for gastric, colorectal, lung, prostate, cervical, and breast cancers. Although such guidelines have increasingly contributed to promoting evidence-based screening, it is still insufficient. Cancer screenings have mainly been provided in communities and workplaces. Compared with the average of OECD countries, participation rates in breast and cervical cancer screening are lower. Participation rates cannot be accurately calculated due to a lack of comprehensive cancer screening registries at the national level. Alternatively, estimates are derived from questionnaire surveys conducted on randomly selected samples from the national population. The quality assurance system has been limited to community-based screening and was not adapted to workplace screening until 2018. While there is a long history of cancer screening, the complex program delivery system might be a barrier to increasing the participation rate. Continued efforts are necessary to offer evidence-based cancer screening and establish an effective quality assurance system.

The Danish National Survey of Diet and Physical Activity (DANSDA) 1995-2011-2013: Study design, study participants, participation rate and underreporting.

AIM: This study describes the study design, study participants, participation rate and underreporting in the Danish National Surveys of Diet and Physical Activity (DANSDA) from 1995 to 2011-2013. METHODS: DANSDA are government-funded surveys of food and nutrient intake, physical activity and lifestyle, undertaken to support nutritional policy, risk assessment and public health research. The surveys are cross-sectional based on primarily simple random samples (ages 1-80 years in 1995, 4-75 years in 2000-2013) drawn from the Danish Civil Registration System. Approximately 4800 individuals in 1995, 8200 in 2000-2002, 8400 in 2003-2008 and 7300 in 2011-2013 were invited to participate. Participants completed a seven-day food diary, a physical activity questionnaire (2000-2008), a step diary (2011-2013) and a face-to-face interview. Self-reported anthropometrics (1995-2013) were supplemented with device-based measures (2011-2013). Pedometers were included in 2011-2013. RESULTS: The number of participants included per survey round was 3100-4400. Participant rates decreased from 66% (1995) to 54% (2011-2013). Non-participation was primarily refusal. Ages 18-30 years, 61-75 years (2000-2013), 61-80 years (1995) and low educated and individuals living alone were underrepresented. Underreporting of energy intake among adults ranged from 14% (1995) to 26% (2008). CONCLUSIONS: The methods in DANSDA have been developed to include device-based measures on physical activity and anthropometrics. This has improved the applicability of the results of the survey. The participation rate has fallen, which has affected sample representativity, and underreporting has increased. Future DANSDA surveys should explore and consider new initiatives to counteract non-response and underreporting, with the aim of enhancing data representativeness and applicability.

Evaluation of a population-based breast cancer screening in North China.

BACKGROUND: Despite mammography-based screening for breast cancer has been conducted in many countries, there are still little data on participation and diagnostic yield in population-based breast cancer screening in China. METHODS: We enrolled 151,973 eligible women from four cities in Hebei Province within the period 2013-2021 and followed up until December 31, 2021. Participants aged 40-74 who assessed as high risk were invited to undergo breast ultrasound and mammography examination. Overall and group-specific participation rates were calculated. Multivariable analyses were used to estimate the factors associated with participation rates. The diagnostic yield of both screening and no screening groups was calculated. We further analyzed the stage distribution and molecular subtype of breast cancer cases by different modes of cancer detection. RESULTS: A total of 42,547 participants were evaluated to be high risk of breast cancer. Among them, 23,009 subjects undertook screening services, with participation rate of 54.08%. Multivariable logistic regression model showed that aged 45-64, high education level, postmenopausal, current smoking, alcohol consumption, family history of breast cancer, and benign breast disease were associated with increased participation of screening. After median follow-up of 3.79 years, there were 456 breast cancer diagnoses of which 65 were screen-detected breast cancers (SBCs), 27 were interval breast cancers (IBCs), 68 were no screening cancers, and 296 were cancers detected outside the screening program. Among them, 92 participants in the screening group (0.40%) and 364 in the non-screening group (0.28%) had breast cancer detected, which resulted in an odds ratio of 1.42 (95% CI 1.13-1.78; P = 0.003). We observed a higher detection rate of breast cancer in the screening group, with ORs of 2.42 (95% CI 1.72-3.41) for early stage (stages 0-I) and 2.12 (95% CI 1.26-3.54) for luminal A subtype. SBCs had higher proportion of early stage (71.93%) and luminal A subtype (47.22%) than other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The significant differences in breast cancer diagnosis between the screening and non-screening group imply an urgent need for increased breast cancer awareness and early detection in China.

Tablet Versus Quick Response Code: Difference in Research Participation Rates?

Conducting research with immunocompromised populations, especially within the context of a global pandemic, warrants consideration of alternative research methods and modes of administration to keep participants safe. Digital and internet-based research methods have been utilized to minimize the risk of harm with cancer patients; however, adolescents and young adults with cancer (AYAs) remain an under served and understudied population with high levels of unmet needs. The purpose of the current study was to examine differences in AYA research participation rates based on two digital survey administration methods (tablet versus QR code). AYAs were randomly assigned to complete an online survey using either a tablet or quick response (QR) code, and participation rates in each group were compared. The total participation rate was 22.9%, with 75% of completed surveys from the tablet group and 25% from the QR code group. While the use of a QR code allows for reduced costs for in-clinic recruitment and may be the most sanitary option during COVID-19, eligible patients in the current study showed trends of increased engagement using a sanitized tablet. It is important to consider how psychosocial research and electronic surveys are administered, as the method may impact recruitment and/or information obtained.

Influencing factors of participation in and satisfaction with elderly health checkups: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Attending health checkups as a primary prevention strategy benefits older adults in facilitating the identification of health issues and risk factors for disease. Little is known about factors influencing participation in and satisfaction with a free annual elderly health checkup program (EHCP) in Taiwan. This study aimed to extend current knowledge related to the uptake of this service and individuals' views of the service. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using a telephone interview survey method to compare influencing factors and satisfaction between participants and non-participants of an EHCP. The individuals involved were older adults in Taipei, Taiwan. The random sampling method included 1,100 people, 550 older adults who had participated in the EHCP within the last 3 years, and 550 older adults who had not. A questionnaire containing personal characteristics and satisfaction with the EHCP was used. Independent t-test and Pearson's Chi-squared test were used to evaluate differences between the two groups. Associations between individual characteristics and health checkup attendance were estimated using log-binomial models. Results: Results showed that 51.64% of participants reported being satisfied with the checkups; however, only 41.09% of non-participants were satisfied. In the association analysis, age, educational level, chronic diseases, and subjective satisfaction were related to older persons' participation. Furthermore, having a stroke was associated with a higher attendance rate [prevalence ratio: 1.49; 95% confidence interval: (1.13, 1.96)]. Conclusions: The EHCP had a high proportion of satisfaction among participants, but the proportion was low among non-participants. Several factors were associated with participation and might lead to unequal healthcare service uptake. Health checkups need to increase among people at a young age, those with low educational backgrounds, and those without chronic diseases.

Opportunities to inform German residents about the possibility of skin cancer screening and to inform stakeholders to take appropriate actions: A qualitative approach.

BACKGROUND: The national skin cancer screening (SCS) was introduced in Germany in 2008. However, public awareness and participation rates remain low. There are no campaigns or target group-specific invitation strategies for SCS yet. Thus, our aim was to derive potential suggestions on how to best inform German residents about the possibility of SCS. METHODS: Semi-structured, individual interviews with male and female German residents aged ≥35 years were conducted in Erlangen (Germany) to explore opportunities on raising awareness of SCS. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 39 persons were interviewed. About 79.5% (31/39) had already undergone at least one SCS. Numerous opportunities to raise awareness of the possibility of SCS were suggested which were categorized into three main topics: the role of public promotion, health-related caregivers, and health insurance. Similar themes were identified for inviting entitled persons to undergo SCS after 2 years. Furthermore, age-dependent communication approaches were proposed, that is, younger persons should be approached electronically, while the older generation should be targeted with traditional media like mail. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this project will inform stakeholders to take appropriate actions. The findings may contribute to increase participation rates in SCS and thus lead to earlier detection of skin cancer.

A new modality of colorectal cancer screening based on chronic disease management.

BACKGROUND: To develop a new modality of colorectal cancer screening based on chronic disease management (CDM) to improve the participation rate of screening, and maximize the benefits of limited resources. METHODS: Patients under CDM were assigned to screening intervention group (SI) and screening control group1 (SC1), residents from natural community were assigned to screening control group2 (SC2). A parallel controlled community intervention study was performed. Only SI would achieve "one-to-one" intervention services. Meanwhile, 200 subjects were selected from each of the three groups for the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) questionnaire before and after intervention, named questionnaire intervention group(QI), questionnaire control group1(QC1) and questionnaire control group2(QC2). The outcome of the intervention was evaluated using the difference-in-differences method and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The preliminary screening participation rate was 43.63%(473/1084) in SI, 14.32%(132/922) in SCI, and 5.87%(105/1789) in SC2. The baseline questionnaire showed low knowledge scores in the three questionnaire groups with no statistically significant differences, while attitude scores in QI and QC1 were significantly higher than QC2. The differences between baseline and terminal showed QI increased larger in knowledge and attitude scores than QC1 and QC2, while no difference was detected between QC1 and QC2. CONCLUSION: The colorectal cancer screening model based on chronic disease management effectively improved the screening participation rate, and the "one-to-one" intervention and the inherent characteristics of the patient population under CDM were the core elements of the new modality.

Would Surgeons Like to Be Submitted to Anal Fistulotomy? An International Web-Based Survey.

Traditional fistulotomy is the most performed surgical procedure in anal fistula surgery. We conducted an international online survey to explore colorectal surgeons' opinions and preferences on fistulotomy. Considering the healing and continence impairment rates reported in the literature, surgeons were invited to answer as a hypothetic patient susceptible to being submitted to fistulotomy for low and high anal fistula. A total of 767 surgeons completed the survey from 72 countries. The majority of respondents were consultants, having treated more than 20 anal fistulas in the last year. Most of them declared that anal fistula would be able to negatively affect quality of life and would be worried/anxious about it. Taking into account all aspects, 87.5% and 37.8% of respondents would agree to be treated with a fistulotomy in case of a low and high fistula, respectively, with an acceptance rate that varied worldwide. At multivariate analysis, factors correlated to the acceptance of anal fistulotomy were male gender (p = 0.003), practice of less than 20 fistula operations during last year (p = 0.020), and low fistula (p < 0.001). Surgeons recognized the extreme complexity of this approach. This study highlighted the necessity of an accurate patients' selection and the adoption of alternative strategy to reduce the risk of anal continence impairment.

Is It Time to Re-Shift the Research Agenda? A Scoping Review of Participation Rates in Workplace Health Promotion Programs.

Workplace health promotion programmes (WHPPs) are among the most important measures to improve the health and motivation of the ageing workforce. However, they are accompanied with certain challenges, such as low participation rates and higher participation levels of the more health-conscious workers, often failing to engage those who need such interventions the most. Following the PRISMA guidelines, this scoping review examined participation rates reported in articles on WHPPs to identify potential knowledge gaps. The results are worrying: participation rates are not only infrequently reported, but also low. Of the 58 articles, 37 report participation rates, with the majority (20) reporting an average participation rate of less than 50%. Reported participation rates refer either to different target groups, the type of intervention, or to single points in time, which makes it difficult to establish consistent criteria for comparison. We argue that despite the importance of WHPP efficacy, research focus should shift to the determinants of participation, as well as the issue of standardising the reporting of participation rates, alongside the potential problem of reporting bias.

Pandemic-resilient target setting in colorectal cancer screening for vulnerable older population.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) needs to be pandemic-resilient to avoid long-lasting shutdowns; however, realistic participation target remains unelucidated. This study aimed to identify the lowest acceptable participation rate in CRCS during a pandemic, focusing on vulnerable older populations who require urgent intervention. METHODS: This nationwide cross-sectional study included 80,946 inpatients aged 70-85 years who were first diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) after 70 years of age, between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2019, in Japan. To evaluate the association between area-level CRCS participation rate and individual early CRC detection, a multilevel logistic regression model was constructed. The mandatorily implemented screening rates were converted to the total screening rate equivalents (TSREs), which reflect the remaining contributions of voluntarily provided screenings. RESULTS: Early detections during stages 0-I were significantly observed when primary screening rate was ≥38% (TSRE) and combined follow-up rate was ≥85%. For early detection during Tis-T1, primary screening rate ≥ 38% (TSRE) and combined follow-up rate ≥ 90% were necessary. For follow-up rates ≥70% or ≥75%, there were cases where missed detection of Tis-T1 were observed. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that, even during pandemic, CRCS should achieve a primary screening rate of 38% and follow-up rate of 85% for vulnerable older populations. These values, lower than the current desirable rates, suggest the maximum possible compromise in balancing the resources between cancer screening and pandemic measures. Moreover, they also indicate the minimum target for shifting to fecal immunochemical test-focused program. Further explorations with varied CRCS settings are necessary for verification.

Limitations introduced by a low participation rate of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence data.

BACKGROUND: There has been a large influx of COVID-19 seroprevalence studies, but comparability between the seroprevalence estimates has been an issue because of heterogeneities in testing platforms and study methodology. One potential source of heterogeneity is the response or participation rate. METHODS: We conducted a review of participation rates (PR) in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence studies collected by SeroTracker and examined their effect on the validity of study conclusions. PR was calculated as the count of participants for whom the investigators had collected a valid sample, divided by the number of people invited to participate in the study. A multivariable beta generalized linear model with logit link was fitted to determine if the PR of international household and community-based seroprevalence studies was associated with the factors of interest, from 1 December 2019 to 10 March 2021. RESULTS: We identified 90 papers based on screening and were able to calculate the PR for 35 out of 90 papers (39%), with a median PR of 70% and an interquartile range of 40.92; 61% of the studies did not report PR. CONCLUSIONS: Many SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence studies do not report PR. It is unclear what the median PR rate would be had a larger portion not had limitations in reporting. Low participation rates indicate limited representativeness of results. Non-probabilistic sampling frames were associated with higher participation rates but may be less representative. Standardized definitions of participation rate and data reporting necessary for the PR calculations are essential for understanding the representativeness of seroprevalence estimates in the population of interest.

Possible Measures to Improve Both Participation and Response Quality in Japan's National Health and Nutrition Survey: Results from a Workshop by Local Government Personnel in Charge of the Survey.

Increasing participation rates are crucial to ensure the representativeness of national survey results of the population. This study aimed to identify measures that could be taken by local government personnel in charge of the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS), Japan, to improve participation rates. The subjects were twenty-one health personnel who worked in 19 local governments and participated in the training course at the National Institute of Public Health. Qualitative data were collected through a workshop. They discussed the problems that seem to affect participation rates and identified possible solutions. The contents were coded and grouped to create categories, using the Jiro Kawakita (KJ) method. For data analysis, researchers combined and reviewed all codes and categories. The measures that could improve participation rates were divided into the following 12 categories: 1. standardization of survey methods, 2. investigator skills, 3. survey organization, 4. venue setting, 5. accessing target households, 6. time of survey, 7. responses during the investigation, 8. confirming meal contents reported in the nutritional intake status survey, 9. rewards/incentives, 10. possible rewards, 11. feedback on survey results, and 12. survey practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings represent viable initiatives for local health personnel to increase participation rates for the NHNS.

A photograph of the researcher on the invitation letter did not affect the participation rate of a postal survey: a randomized study within a trial (SWAT).

OBJECTIVE: Participant recruitment is one of the main challenges in research. It is suggested that including researcher photographs might increase participation rates, but empirical evidence is lacking. This study within a trial (SWAT) aims to assess whether invitation letters including researcher photographs increase the participation rate in the context of a survey on medical second opinions. METHODS: Through 25 local register offices in Berlin and Brandenburg (Germany), we identified a random sample of 9990 persons. We randomly assigned our sample to the intervention group (IG) receiving an invitation letter with researcher photographs and control group (CG) receiving an invitation letter without photographs in a 1:1 ratio. Our primary outcome was the participation rate. Furthermore, we compared participants to non-participants' characteristics. RESULTS: Of 9990 invitations, 9797 could be delivered (IG: 4890, CG: 4907). Of these, 1349 (13.8%) participated. There were 682/4890 (13.9%) participants in the IG and 662/4907 (13.5%) in the CG with an odds ratio of 1.030 (95% confidence interval: 0.918-1.156). Additional analyses on non-participant characteristics did not show any differences. CONCLUSION: We could not find any difference in the participation rates. Our study does not confirm the results of previous studies. The length of our questionnaire may have affected our results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Queens University Belfast - SWAT Store, SWAT 104.

Assessment of the compliance, influencing factors, and yielding results of liver cancer screening in a high-risk population: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The participation and results for liver cancer screening are rarely reported. The aim of this study was to determine the participation rates and factors affecting participation rates as well as to report the detection rate for liver cancer in an organized screening program. METHODS: The organized screening program for liver cancer was conducted in 12 rural sites. The risk of developing liver cancer was initially evaluated for each participant. High-risk individuals were offered α-fetoprotein measurement and ultrasonography examination. Potential risk factors associated with the participation rate were screened by fitted generalized linear mixed logistic regression models through reporting odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs. RESULTS: A total of 358,662 eligible participants completed the basic surveys, and 54,745 were evaluated to be at high risk of liver cancer. Of these high-risk individuals, 40,543 accepted the screening services. Determinants of participation for screening behavior included older age, being female, being positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, having a family history of liver cancer, chronic depression, and low income. The detection rate for liver cancer was estimated to be 0.41% (95% CI, 0.35-0.48). CONCLUSIONS: This study reported several significant factors associated with the screening behaviors for liver cancer. LAY SUMMARY: Participation rate and results for liver cancer screening in rural areas are rarely reported. The determinants associated with adherence rates and early detection rate of liver cancer in an organized screening program for liver cancer were assessed. A possible positive correlation between the participation rates and the early detection rate was observed among attendees of screening. These new finds could be beneficial to increasing the participation rate of screening.

Local problem solving in the Portuguese health examination survey: a mixed method study.

BACKGROUND: Participation rates in health surveys, recognized as an important quality dimension, have been declining over the years, which may affect representativeness and confidence in results. The Portuguese national health examination survey INSEF (2015) achieved a participation rate of 43.9%, which is in line with participation rates from other similar health examination surveys. The objective of this article is to describe how local teams of survey personnel conducted the survey, describing strategies used to solve practical survey problems and to try to increase the participation rate. METHODS: After a literature search, informal interviews were conducted with 14 public health officials from local health examination teams, regional and central authorities. Forty-one of the local staff members (survey personnel) also filled in a short questionnaire anonymously. The interviews and self-administered questionnaires were analysed using mixed methods, informed by thematic analysis. RESULTS: The local teams believed that the detailed manual, described as a "cookbook for making a health examination survey", made it possible to maintain high scientific standards while allowing for improvising solutions to problems in the local context. The quality of the manual, supported by a series of training workshops with the central research and support team, gave the teams the confidence and knowledge to implement local solutions. Motivation and cohesion within the local teams were among the goals of the training process. Local teams felt empowered by being given large responsibilities and worked hard to incite people to attend the examination through a close and persuasive approach. Local teams praised their INSA contacts for being available for assistance throughout the survey, and said they were inspired to try harder to reach participants to please their contacts for interpersonal reasons. CONCLUSIONS: The theory of organizational improvisation or bricolage, which means using limited resources to solve problems, was useful to discuss and understand what took place during INSEF. A detailed manual covering standard procedures, continuous monitoring of the data collection and face-to-face workshops, including role-play, were vital to assure high scientific standards and high participation rates in this health examination survey. Close contacts between the central team and local focal points in all regions and all survey sites were key to accommodating unexpected challenges and innovative solutions.

Participación de la Población Rural del Municipio de Filandia en los Sistemas de Seguridad Social / Participation of the Rural Population of the Municipality of Filandia in the Social Security Systems / Participação da População Rural do Município de Filandia nos Sistemas de Segurança Social

Resumen Introducción: El desarrollo socioeconómico en las zonas rurales está impulsado por los programas de Protección Social y Seguridad Social, los cuales ayudan a las sociedades con altos índice de desigualdades e inequidades, protegiendo a los individuos más vulnerables de la sociedad. Objetivo: Analizar la participación de la población rural del municipio de Filandia a programas de Seguridad Social para el año 2020. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un muestreo estratificado con nivel de confianza del 90 % y un error muestral del 5 % a las 24 veredas del municipio. Se empleó una muestra de 239 predios y se utilizó el programa Stata® para analizar las variables identificadas en el estudio. Resultados: Se encontró que la zona rural del municipio de Filandia es altamente informal, ya que el 74,06 % de la población no cotiza a pensión, el 71,55 % no cotiza a salud y el 81,59 % no está afiliado a riesgos laborales. Adicionalmente, se evidencia una relación inversa entre la educación y la informalidad; igualmente, entre menos nivel de ingresos perciba una persona y pertenezca a un nivel bajo del SISBEN mayor es la probabilidad de no cotizar. Conclusiones: Los individuos de la zona rural del municipio son vulnerables a debacles económicos y sanitarios, aumentando su probabilidad de caer en trampas de pobreza. Así mismo, las malas condiciones laborales limitan el acceso a buenos servicios de salud y educación, la competitividad en relación con otros sectores, y profundizan la desigualdad en la sociedad.

Abstract Introduction: Socio Economic development in rural areas is enhanced by the social security systems. These help societies with a high inequality index, protecting the most vulnerable individuals in a society. Objective: Analyze the participation of the rural population of the municipality of Filandia in the social security systems for the year 2020. Materials and methods: A stratified sample was carried out with a 90 % of confidence level and a sampling error of 5 % to the municipality's 24 rural communities. The sample was 239 estates and the software Stata® was used to analyze the different variables identified in this study. Results: It was found that the rural areas of the municipality of Filandia are highly informal: 74.06% of the population does not contribute to social security, 71.55 % participate in subsidized health, and 81.59 % are not protected from occupational hazards. Additionally, it was found an inverse relationship between education and informality. Moreover, the lower the income level a person has, together with a low SISBEN level, the greater the probability of not contributing to the social security systems. Conclusions: the individuals in the rural areas of this municipality are vulnerable to economic and sanitary debacles; increasing the probability to fall into poverty traps. Likewise, poor labor conditions limit access to high-quality health and educational services, competitiveness in relation to other sectors, and deepen social inequalities.

Resumo Introdução: O desenvolvimento socioeconómico em áreas rurais é impulsionado por programas de Proteção Social e Previdência Social, que auxiliam sociedades com altos índices de desigualdades e iniquidades, protegendo os indivíduos mais vulneráveis da sociedade. Objetivo: Analisar a participação da população rural do município de Filândia nos programas da Previdência Social para o ano de 2020. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizada amostragem estratificada com nível de confiança de 90 % e erro amostral de 5 % nas 24 aldeias do município. Foi utilizada uma amostra de 239 fazendas e o programa Stata® foi utilizado para analisar as variáveis identificadas no estudo. Resultados: Se encontró que la zona rural del municipio de Filandia es altamente informal, ya que el 74,06 % de la población no cotiza a pensión, el 71,55 % no cotiza a salud y el 81,59 % no está afiliado a riscos laborais. Além disso, há evidências de uma relação inversa entre educação e informalidade; da mesma forma, quanto menor a faixa de renda que uma pessoa recebe e pertence a uma faixa baixa do SISBEN, maior a probabilidade de não contribuir. Conclusões: Os indivíduos da área rural do município são vulneráveis a desastres económicos e de saúde, aumentando sua probabilidade de cair na armadilha da pobreza. Da mesma forma, as más condições de trabalho limitam o acesso a bons serviços de saúde e educação, a competitividade em relação a outros setores e aprofundam as desigualdades na sociedade.

Examining active aging among Iranian provinces: a TOPSIS analysis.

BACKGROUND: Planning and decision-making for the elderly requires a special attention due to the beginning of aging process in Iran. By emphasizing the concept of active aging, determining the status of the elderly like their ability to continue work over time, to attain income and to participate in social and political life is significant. Active aging uses the indicators measuring the non-used potential of the elderly for having an active and healthy aging. This study aimed to determine the level of active aging among the provinces of Iran in 2018 by considering 11 indicators related to elderly's health, well-being and socioeconomic participation. METHODS: The raw data were obtained from Statistical Center of Iran. After establishing the indicators based on the Global Age Watch approach, the provinces were ranked by the TOPSIS method in terms of aging status. RESULTS: The results indicated that only Tehran and Alborz had the highest development level of active aging while 16% of the provinces had a semi-developed status and 77% failed at experiencing a satisfactory welfare, economic and social status. CONCLUSIONS: Four indicators had the highest importance included the percentage of the elderly with a diploma and academic degree, the percentage of the elderly with lower incomes than the median income, the median income of the elderly to the median income of the other people in society, and life expectancy among the 65-year old men. Studying the indicators deeply can result in the appropriate planning for each area in line with the improvement of the elderly status.

Survey Non-Response in COVID-19 Times: The Case of the Labour Force Survey.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, labour-force survey non-response rates have surged in many countries. We show that in the case of the Canadian Labour Force Survey (LFS), the bulk of this increase is due to the suspension of in-person interviews following the adoption of telework within Federal agencies, including Statistics Canada. Individuals with vulnerabilities to the COVID-19 economic shock have been harder to reach and have been gradually less and less represented in the LFS during the pandemic. We present evidence suggesting that the decline in employment and labour-force participation have been underestimated over the March-July 2020 period. We argue that these non-response issues are moderate when analyzing aggregate outcomes, but that researchers should exert caution when gauging the robustness of estimates for subgroups. We discuss practical implications for research based on the LFS, such as the consequences for panels and the choice of public-use versus master files of the LFS.

Pendant la pandémie de COVID-19, le taux de non-réponse aux enquêtes auprès de la population active a explosé dans beaucoup de pays. Nous montrons que dans le cas de l'Enquête canadienne sur la population active (EPA), le gros de cette hausse s'explique par la suspension des entrevues en personne qui a suivi l'adoption du télétravail dans les agences fédérales, y compris à Statistique Canada. Les personnes vulnérables au choc économique de la COVID-19 ont été plus difficiles à joindre et ont été de moins en moins représentées dans l'EPA au cours de la pandémie. Nous montrons, preuves à l'appui, que la diminution de l'emploi et de la participation à la main-d'œuvre est sous-estimée pour la période de mars à juillet 2020. Nous soutenons que la gravité de ces problèmes de non-réponses est modérée quand il s'agit d'analyser des résultats agrégés mais que la prudence s'impose dans l'évaluation de la robustesse des estimations pour les sous-groupes. Nous présentons les conséquences pratiques de cette situation pour les travaux qui reposent sur l'EPA, telles que les effets sur les panels et le choix entre données à grande diffusion et fichiers principaux de l'EPA.