Guidelines for linking HBM and health studies

HBM and health studies, namely health examination surveys (HES), have several common components both in the planning and the preparation phase of the study, as well as in the implementation phase, namely with regard to survey contents and to fieldwork. For planning and preparation phases, for example, common features can be found in sampling, ethical and data protection, personnel requirements, and training of the survey staff. Both study types include questionnaires which can have several common modules, health measurements and collection of biological samples such as blood and urine. Sample selection and requirements for the fieldwork site as well as recruitment of participants also share several common features.

Additional to all common features and protocols there are also specific issues/protocols from HBM and HES which differ. Therefore, the aim of these guidelines and SOPs is to provide recommendations on how HBM and HES could be combined at a national level to obtain the best synergies on fieldwork logistics, data collection and costs.

These guidelines are based on comparison of the existing HBM and HES protocols.The guidelines and SOPs for HBM studies are based on some of the deliverables (ready and under preparation) within the HBM4EU project, experience from COPHES/DEMOCOPHES and HBM protocols/recommendations9 For HESs the guidelines and SOPs are taken from the EHES. The main purpose has been to identify survey phases and contents of the survey protocols which are common in both HBM and health studies, i.e. easily merged, and where differences exist. When protocols for HBM and HES were similar, common parts are described as recommendation for combined HBM and health survey. When differences in the protocols were observed, recommendations aims to highlight the minimum key components required for both parts (HBM and HES). For differing parts, case-by-case decisions are needed in each study to ensure that study aims are fulfilled.1