Selection of the fieldwork site and

staff

Johanna Mäki-Opas

Possible examination sites

• Home • Temporal examination site• Examination site within existing

health care premises • Mobile examination site

Selecting the examination site

• Cultural factors and health care system • Distance• Public transportation • Special requirements for the

measurements • Temperature • Quietness• Sample storage • Privacy

• Enough room for special measurements

Advantages and disadvantages of

the examination sites Home Temporal

examination site

Examination site with in health care premises

Mobile examination site

Access by participants

Easy Requires effort Requires effort May be quite easy

Costs for participant

None Travel costs Travel costs Some travel costs

Environment•Atmosphere•Privacy •Temperature

•Quietness

Relaxed May be limited No control No control

Some tension Good Can be controlled Can be controlled

Some tension Good Can be controlled Can be controlled

Some tension Good Can be controlled Can be controlled

Safety of the fieldwork staff

Cannot be controlled

Can be controlled Can be controlled Can be controlled

Home Temporal examination site

Examination site within health care premises

Mobile examination site

Restrictions to measurements

Yes None Usually none Some

Standardization of the measurements

Difficult Can be done Can be done Can be done

Acceptability by participants

Some people are not willing to let staff enter their home

Generally accepted

May not be highly valued among some people

Generally accepted

Selection of fieldwork staff

General principles for selecting the staff: • Legislation• Professional competence • Cultural norms • Motivation to follow the survey protocol• Willingness to travel • Fluency of the languages • General appearance

Professions recommended to carry out the core EHES

clinical measurements

• Registered nurse • Certified phlebotomist • Physician available for consultation

Setting up the fieldwork team

• Number of the personnel • Rotation of the duties • Leadership in the field • Consultation and supervision

Example of fieldwork team

• Nurse 1• Reception of the participants, obtaining

consent, health interview and/or checking the self administered questionnaire

• Nurse 2• Blood pressure measurement, height, weight

and waist circumference measurement

• Phlebotomist• Drawing and processing blood samples