414 Recruitment strategies for the health interview survey GEDA Fokus among people with selected citizenships: what works for whom?

Sep 30, 2026

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The recruitment strategies of the German health interview survey GEDA Fokus were evaluated to improve representation of migrants and their descendants in public health monitoring. Using register-based sampling, adults aged 18–79 with selected citizenships were invited to complete bilingual web and paper questionnaires, with additional home visits in larger cities. A total of 6,038 participants were enrolled, yielding an 18.4% response rate. Home visits produced the largest response-rate increase (+7.6%), while later stages improved inclusion across education, income, and physical health impairments. Survey modes and languages differed by sociodemographic factors, and multiple contact attempts and tailored participation options reduced non-response bias.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Aims

Methods

Results

Conclusions

2nd World Congress on Migration, Ethnicity, Race & Health Abstract Book vi39 Abstract citation ID: ckaf180.108 414 Recruitment strategies for the health interview survey GEDA Fokus among people with selected citizenships: what works for whom? Carmen Koschollek1, Beate Gaertner1,2, Julia Geerlings1, Elvira Mauz1, Claudia Hövener1 1Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany 2DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Berlin, Berlin, Germany OP 13: Research Methods, B304 (FCSH), September 3, 2025, 17:00-18:00 Aims: In 2023, every fifth person in Germany had their own migration experience (19.3%) . However, migrants and their descendants are not represented according to their proportion of the population within public health monitoring. Hence, analyses on health inequalities in the context of migration are hampered. To close this data gap, the health interview survey GEDA Fokus was conducted throughout Germany (11/2021-05/2022) . Aim is to evaluate the recruitment strategies regarding the inclusion of specific sub-groups of selected citizenships. Methods: Using register-based sampling, adults (18-79 years) with Croatian, Italian, Polish, Syrian or Turkish citizenship were randomly drawn out of residents’ registries of 99 cities and municipalities. Sample persons were sequentially invited to answer a bilingual web-based, followed by a bilingual paper-based questionnaire. In bigger cities, subsequently, home visits were conducted to realize a personal or telephone interview. Response rates (RR) were calculated according to standards of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, additionally, participation was analysed regarding the utilization of survey modes and languages. Results: Overall, 6,038 people took part, the corresponding RR was 18.4%, ranging from 13.8%(Turkish citizenship) to 23.9%(Syrian citizenship) . Home visits accounted for the largest increase in RR (þ 7.6%) . During later recruitment stages, more participants with lower levels of education and income were included, as well as those with physical health impairments. Utilization of survey modes and languages varied by sociodemographic characteristics: participants aged 􀀂 50 years preferred the paper-based questionnaire, those who recently immigrated more often used the translation. Conclusions: Multiple contact attempts, including home visits, as well as offering different survey modes and languages increased the RR and eventually reduced non-response bias. To adequately represent a heterogeneous population within public health monitoring, it is essential to expand options of survey participation to make health surveys accessible for all people within a society.

FAQs

What was the main aim of this GEDA Fokus study?

To evaluate recruitment strategies for including sub-groups of people with selected citizenships in the health interview survey, addressing a data gap in migration-related health monitoring.

How were participants recruited for the survey?

Adults aged 18–79 with Croatian, Italian, Polish, Syrian, or Turkish citizenship were randomly drawn from residents’ registries of 99 cities and municipalities and invited sequentially to bilingual web and paper questionnaires; larger cities also used home visits for personal or telephone interviews.

Which recruitment step most increased the response rate and by how much?

Home visits accounted for the largest increase in response rate, contributing +7.6 percentage points to the overall response rate.

What overall conclusions were drawn about improving survey participation?

Multiple contact attempts, including home visits, and offering different survey modes and languages increased response rates and reduced non-response bias, supporting more adequate representation of diverse populations in public health monitoring.

Sep 30, 2026

Upload by Sarah