Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26252650›Full record

ArticlePloS one2015

Asking about Sex in General Health Surveys: Comparing the Methods and Findings of the 2010 Health Survey for England with Those of the Third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles.

Philip Prah, Anne M Johnson, Anthony Nardone, Soazig Clifton, Jennifer S Mindell, Andrew J Copas, Chloe Robinson, Rachel Craig, Sarah C Woodhall, Wendy Macdowall and 5 more

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Undisclosed Sexual Risk Exposures: Results of a Nationwide Compliance Study among Whole Blood Donors in Germany.Transfusion medicine and hemotherapy : offizielles Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Transfusionsmedizin und Immunhamatologie · 2022
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Philip PrahResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Anne M JohnsonResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Anthony NardonePublic Health England, London, United Kingdom.
Soazig CliftonResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; NatCen Social Research, London, United Kingdom.
Jennifer S MindellDepartment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Andrew J CopasResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Chloe RobinsonNatCen Social Research, London, United Kingdom.
Rachel CraigNatCen Social Research, London, United Kingdom.
Sarah C WoodhallPublic Health England, London, United Kingdom.
Wendy MacdowallDepartment of Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Elizabeth FullerNatCen Social Research, London, United Kingdom.
Bob ErensResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Pam SonnenbergResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
Kaye WellingsDepartment of Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Catherine H MercerResearch Department of Infection and Population Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.

Funding

Medical Research Council G0701757Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust 084840
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesIncluding questions about sexual health in the annual Health Survey for England (HSE) provides opportunities for regular measurement of key public health indicators, augmenting Britain's decennial National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal). However, contextual and methodological differences may limit comparability of the findings. We examine the extent of these differences between HSE 2010 and Natsal-3 and investigate their impact on parameter estimates.

methodsComplex survey analyses of data from men and women in the 2010 HSE (n = 2,782 men and 3,588 women) and Natsal-3 undertaken 2010-2012 (n = 4,882 men and 6,869 women) aged 16-69y and resident in England, both using probability sampling, compared their characteristics, the amount of non-response to, and estimates from, sexual health questions. Both surveys used self-completion for the sexual behaviour questions but this was via computer-assisted self-interview (CASI) in Natsal-3 and a pen-and-paper questionnaire in HSE 2010.

resultsThe surveys achieved similar response rates, both around 60%, and demographic profiles largely consistent with the census, although HSE participants tended to be less educated, and reported worse general health, than Natsal-3 participants. Item non-response to the sexual health questions was typically higher in HSE 2010 (range: 9-18%) relative to Natsal-3 (all <5%). Prevalence estimates for sexual risk behaviours and STI-related indicators were generally slightly lower in HSE 2010 than Natsal-3.

conclusionsWhile a relatively high response to sexual health questions in HSE 2010 demonstrates the feasibility of asking such questions in a general health survey, differences with Natsal-3 do exist. These are likely due to the HSE's context as a general health survey and methodological limitations such as its current use of pen-and-paper questionnaires. Methodological developments to the HSE should be considered so that its data can be interpreted in combination with those from dedicated sexual health surveys, thus improving our ability to monitor trends in sexual health.

Indexed as

Sexual BehaviorSurveys and QuestionnairesAdolescentAdultAgedEnglandFemaleHealth SurveysHumansMaleMiddle AgedProbabilityPsychometricsRisk-TakingYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID26252650
PMCPMC4529206

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.