The Australian Electoral Commission Roll has good utility for 'niche' household recruitment in population health studies.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the recruitment of 'niche' household populations, defined by their household characteristics and/or water supply type for health studies.


METHODS
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) database was used to recruit households for participation in two health-related studies, the first, a recycled water usage study and the second, an epidemiological study investigating household rainwater use.


RESULTS
The AEC database facilitated the identification and recruitment of households using a particular water supply from among the general household population.


CONCLUSIONS
The good utility of the AEC roll in household recruitment was associated with its coverage, accuracy and the ability to delimit the sampling frame according to the geographical area(s) and household characteristics of interest. Its use also allowed personalised contact to be made with potential survey participants by mail, contact that is not otherwise possible using existing telephone and on-line databases.


CONCLUSIONS
The AEC database is a valuable resource for household recruitment in a diversity of health and environmental exposure surveys.
O'Toole
Joanne
J
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, The Alfred, Victoria. joanne.o'toole@med.monash.edu.au
Rodrigo
Shelly
S
Sinclair
Martha
M
Leder
Karin
K
D001315:Australia; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D011891:Rain; D012107:Research Design; D035842:Research Subjects