Surveying migrant populations – methodological considerations: An example from Germany

Abstract

Data available from the recruitment process for a population-based survey on psychological well-being in women of Turkish origin aged 18–75 years was subjected to post-hoc analysis to examine effects of different recruitment approaches and reasons for non-response. A random sample of 80,000 women was drawn from the Berlin population registry and 3884 women of Turkish origin identified by a name-based algorithm. The women were assigned randomly to three waves for further contact. The protocol consisted of an invitation letter, telephone contact and door-to-door visits. Door-to-door visits were only performed in one wave, to assess the effect of an intensified recruitment approach. Response rates were 11.9% (95% CI: 7.2–16.6) in the first wave, 3.9% (95% CI: 1.7–6.2) in the second wave and 1.3% (95% CI: 0.9–1.8) in the third wave. The contact rate was highest in the first wave (n=126; 68.1%), which included door-to-door visits. Participants were more often married, had more children, higher educational level, a higher net household income and more often a history of mental disorder. Participation was associated with door-to-door visits (OR=4.22; 95% CI: 1.89–9.45), age (for 35–54 years; OR=2.01; 95% CI: 1.03–3.91) and reply by telephone (OR=4.32; 95% CI: 2.18–8.60). Through the intensified recruitment approach the contact rate could be increased. Despite this we found a relatively low response rate in all recruitment waves.

Keywords:

• response rates
• survey modes
• methodology
• migrants

Acknowledgements

The study was funded by the German ministry for education and research (BMBF 01 EL0807).

Notes on contributors

Marion Aichberger, MD MSc, is the project coordinator of the BMBF-funded study ‘Suicide prevention for women of Turkish origin in Berlin’. She is a resident psychiatrist at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Charité Campus Mitte – University Medicine Berlin, Germany and a research associate of the research unit Migration and Mental Health.

Rahsan Yesil, MPH, is a research associate at the Department of Epidemiology at Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany and of the research unit Migration and Mental Health of the Psychiatric University Clinic Charité.

Michael Rapp, MD PhD, is the assistant medical director of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at St Hedwig Hospital, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Germany.

Peter Schlattmann, PhD, is a statistician and Professor at the Institute of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Documentation, University Hospital Jena, Germany.

Selver Temur-Erman, Dipl.-Psych, is a clinical psychologist and a research associate of the research unit Migration and Mental Health of the Psychiatric University Clinic Charité.

Zohra Bromand, Dipl.-Psych, is a clinical psychologist and PhD candidate at Charité University Medicine.

Amanda Heredia Montesinos, Dipl.-Psych, is a clinical psychologist and PhD candidate at Charité University Medicine.

Adrian Mundt, MD is a psychiatrist at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Charité Campus Mitte – University Medicine Berlin, Germany.

Mike Mösko, Dipl.-Psych, is a research associate at the Department of Clinical Psychology, University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.

Andreas Heinz, MD, is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Charité Campus Mitte – University Medicine Berlin, Germany.

Meryam Schouler-Ocak, MD, is Director of the out-patient services at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at St Hedwig Hospital, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Germany, and director of the research unit Migration and Mental Health of the Psychiatric University Clinic Charité.