The aim of the postal method was to recruit as many vegetarians as possible. Two methods were used to recruit men and women aged 20 and over. First, the main questionnaire was mailed directly to all members of The Vegetarian Society of the UK. Enclosed with each questionnaire was a sheet of labels on which participants were invited to give names and addresses of relatives and friends interested in receiving a questionnaire (“snowballing”). To maintain snowballing momentum, all subsequent questionnaires were mailed with a sheet of labels. Secondly, a short questionnaire (or insert) was distributed to all members of The Vegan Society, enclosed in health/diet-interest magazines, and displayed on health food shop counters. This was contained in a single A4 sheet, which could be folded and sealed for return mailing to the study office. Questions were limited to the four dietary categorisation questions; date and place of birth; sex; height; weight; age left school; smoking history; alcohol consumption; and brief medical history. The main questionnaire was then mailed to all those indicating an interest in receiving one. Participants recruited by these postal methods and who completed the main questionnaire were asked if they would be willing to provide a blood sample. The participant’s GP was then approached to take a blood sample on behalf of EPIC-Oxford.
Posted Mar 18, 02:56 PM · link to this article