The use of family health services authority registers as a sampling frame in the UK: a review of theory and practice.

Abstract

Accepted for publication March 1995 In epidemiological and social scientific studies the choice of an appropriate, accurate sampling frame listing eligible subjects is a meth odological decision which will influence the representativeness of the sample selected, and hence the generalisability of findings. The most widely used population sampling frame of adult individuals in the UK is the electoral roll.12 Telephone listings have become more popular in recent years while other studies use sampling frames related to property by which to identify individuals.34 An increasingly used population sampling frame is the list of persons registered with UK general practitioners (GP) held by family health services authorities (FHSA). These registers were developed so that FHSAs (previously Family Practitioner Committees and Executive Councils) could arrange payment of GPs for National Health Service patients.1 FHSAs are usually based on counties or metropolitan bor oughs, and are accountable to regional health authorities and so to the NHS Executive. Re cent major developments in FHSA registers mean that they have a number of important advantages over more usual sampling frames.