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Abstract
Objectives
To describe the method, data collection procedure and participation in The Population-based Study on Health and Living Conditions in Areas with both Sami and Norwegian Settlements – the SAMINOR 2 questionnaire study.
Study design
Cross-sectional and semi-longitudinal.
Methods
In 2012, all inhabitants aged 18–69 and living in selected municipalities with both Sami and Norwegian settlements in Mid and Northern Norway were posted an invitation to participate in a questionnaire survey covering several topics related to health and living conditions. The geographical area was similar to the area where the SAMINOR 1 study was conducted in 2003/2004 with the exception of one additional municipality. Participants could alternatively use a web-based questionnaire with identical question and answer categories as the posted paper version.
Results
In total, 11,600 (27%) participated (16% used the web-based questionnaire), with a higher participation rate among those over 50 (37% for women and 32% for men). Some geographical variation in participation rates was found. In addition, for those invited who also participated in the SAMINOR 1 study, we found that the participation rates increased with the level of education and income, while there was little difference in participation rates across ethnic groups.
Conclusion
The knowledge generated from future theme-specific research utilizing the SAMINOR 2 database has the potential to benefit the general population in this geographical area of Norway, and the Sami people in particular, by providing knowledge-based insight into the health and living conditions of the multi-ethnic population in these parts of Norway.
Acknowledgements
The SAMINOR 2 questionnaire study has been financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority, the Regional Research Fund for Northern Norway, the Sami National Centre for Mental Health, The Finnmark Hospital Trust, The Sami Parliament, Finnmark County Council, Troms County Council, and Nordland County Council. Finally, the authors would like to thank the participants for their valuable contributions to the SAMINOR study.
Conflict of interest and funding
The authors have not received any funding or benefits from industry or elsewhere to conduct this study.
