Survey Methodology
Official Statistics based on the Dutch Health Survey during the Covid-19 Pandemic

by Jan van den Brakel and Marc SmeetsNote 1

  • Release date: June 30, 2023
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Abstract

The Dutch Health Survey (DHS), conducted by Statistics Netherlands, is designed to produce reliable direct estimates at an annual frequency. Data collection is based on a combination of web interviewing and face-to-face interviewing. Due to lockdown measures during the Covid-19 pandemic there was no or less face-to-face interviewing possible, which resulted in a sudden change in measurement and selection effects in the survey outcomes. Furthermore, the production of annual data about the effect of Covid-19 on health-related themes with a delay of about one year compromises the relevance of the survey. The sample size of the DHS does not allow the production of figures for shorter reference periods. Both issues are solved by developing a bivariate structural time series model (STM) to estimate quarterly figures for eight key health indicators. This model combines two series of direct estimates, a series based on complete response and a series based on web response only and provides model-based predictions for the indicators that are corrected for the loss of face-to-face interviews during the lockdown periods. The model is also used as a form of small area estimation and borrows sample information observed in previous reference periods. In this way timely and relevant statistics describing the effects of the corona crisis on the development of Dutch health are published. In this paper the method based on the bivariate STM is compared with two alternative methods. The first one uses a univariate STM where no correction for the lack of face-to-face observation is applied to the estimates. The second one uses a univariate STM that also contains an intervention variable that models the effect of the loss of face-to-face response during the lockdown.

Key Words: Small area estimation; Structural time series model; Corona crisis.

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How to cite

van den Brakel, J., and Smeets, M. (2023). Official Statistics based on the Dutch Health Survey during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Survey Methodology, Statistics Canada, Catalogue No. 12-001-X, Vol. 49, No. 1. Paper available at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/12-001-x/2023001/article/00004-eng.htm.

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ISSN : 1492-0921

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Survey Methodology publishes articles dealing with various aspects of statistical development relevant to a statistical agency, such as design issues in the context of practical constraints, use of different data sources and collection techniques, total survey error, survey evaluation, research in survey methodology, time series analysis, seasonal adjustment, demographic studies, data integration, estimation and data analysis methods, and general survey systems development. The emphasis is placed on the development and evaluation of specific methodologies as applied to data collection or the data themselves. All papers will be refereed. However, the authors retain full responsibility for the contents of their papers and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board or of Statistics Canada.

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© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2023

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Catalogue No. 12-001-X

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