4363.0 - National Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2017-18  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/04/2019   
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Response rates

A fully responding household is one in which all parts of the interview were completed for all persons in scope. An adequately responding household is the same as a fully responding household, but with legitimate 'don't know' answers or refusals from respondents. Adequately responding households for the 2017-18 NHS also included respondents who refused to have their height, weight, waist circumference or blood pressure measured.

A sample of 25,109 dwellings were selected for the survey. This was reduced to 21,544 dwellings after sample loss in the field stage. Of the 21,544 dwellings in the actual sample, 16,376 (76.0%) were fully or adequately responding households.

Details of response rates are provided below.


Response rates, National Health Survey, 2017-18
Number of households
no.
Proportion of households
%
Selected households in sample
25 109
100.0
Total sample loss(a)
3 573
14.2
Selected households after sample loss
21 544
85.8
Response status of selected households approached (after sample loss):
Total selected households after sample loss
21 544
100.0
Fully or adequately responding households
16 376
76.0
Not adequately responding households:
Part Response(b)
263
1.2
Non Response(c)
3 895
18.1
Refusal(d)
1 002
4.7
Total not adequately responding households
5 160
24.0
(a) Sample loss refers to dwellings that were out of scope, vacant dwellings, vacant holiday homes, dwellings converted to a non-dwelling, derelict dwellings, dwellings which had been demolished, a dwelling under construction, dwelling listed in error, households where residents were away during enumeration, households with residents too young to be selected (no person in the household was 18 years or over).
(b) Part Response = Households that were initially contacted but could not complete an interview + Households where language barriers prevented interviews being completed + Households where a death or illness prevented respondents from completing an interview
(c) Non Response = Households which were unable to be contacted + Households where language barriers prevented interview + Households where a death or illness prevented participation + Households that could not have an interview conducted + Households unable to be contacted due to secure building arrangements + Households involved in Natural Disasters + Households not approached + Households with Occupational Health and Safety concerns + Other
(d) Refusal = Households which refused to participate in part or in full.

2017-18 NHS, Approached sample, Final sample and response rates
NSW
Vic.
Qld
SA
WA
Tas.
NT
ACT
Aust.
Selected households approached (after sample loss)
4 537
3 420
4 412
1 981
2 223
1 778
1 828
1 365
21 544
Fully or adequately responding households
3 271
2 612
3 364
1 658
1 656
1 605
1 089
1 121
16 376
Response rate (%)
72.1
76.4
76.2
83.7
74.5
90.3
59.6
82.1
76.0
Blank row
Persons in sample
4 273
3 419
4 412
2 056
2 168
2 016
1 479
1 492
21 315
The total sample for the survey was 21,315 persons. Detailed sample counts can be found in Appendix 1: Sample counts and estimates.

Physical measurement component response rates, National Health Survey, 2017-18
Number of persons
no.
Proportion of persons
%
Fully responding interview (2+)
20 658
100.0
Fully responding interview (18+)
16 370
100.0
Measured height (2+)
13 246
64.1
Measured weight (2+)
13 246
64.1
Measured waist circumference (2+)
12 888
62.4
Measured blood pressure (18+)
11 192
68.4