Relative bias in health estimates from probability-based online panels : systematic review and meta-analysis

Ivanovska, Andrea (avtor), Bošnjak, Michael (avtor), Vehovar, Vasja (avtor)

Introduction: Health surveys require the highest data quality, especially when they inform public health policies. With recent technological developments, probability-based online panels (PBOPs) are becoming an attractive cost-effective alternative to traditional surveys. They are also beginning to be used for official health statistics. However, PBOPs still face concerns about bias, especially for health-related estimates. Method: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of PBOP PBOP health survey data quality, with relative bias (RB) of the estimates as the effect size. We analysed 137 health-related survey items from 14 studies and used a linear regression model to examine factors that moderate RB. Results: The RB varied considerably across the subjects, and its overall median was 12.7%. The highest RBs were exhibited by disabilities (23.6%), mental illnesses (23.2%), personal mental health conditions (20.8%) and drug use (20.7%), and the lowest, by doctor’s treatment (2.24%). The measurement levels with ordinal scales (25.8%) showed higher RB, and certain country effects were also observed. Conclusion: This moderate bias of the health estimates raises concerns about the accuracy of PBOP estimates regarding sensitive health topics. Therefore, PBOP should be used cautiously for official health statistics; and when designing PBOP surveys for health subjects, the item and study characteristics should be included as methodological considerations.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: probability-based online panels, data quality, relative bias, meta-analysis
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.02 - Pregledni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FDV - Fakulteta za družbene vede
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: Str. 10-23
• Številčenje: Vol. 4, no. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-178043
• UDK: 303
• ISSN pri članku: 2820-5480
• DOI: 10.33700/jhrs.4.1.137
• COBISS.SI-ID: 242502147
• Datum objave v RUL: 16.01.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Journal of health and rehabilitation sciences
• Založnik: Alma Mater Europaea - ECM
• ISSN: 2820-5480
• COBISS.SI-ID: 128798979

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: spletni paneli na podlagi verjetnosti, kakovost podatkov, relativna pristranskost, metaanaliza