2. Participation in the monitor

2.1 Why have I received an invitation?

We have sent invitations to approximately 1.5 million residents of the Netherlands, aged 18 and over to take part in the GGD Health Monitor 2024.

Every resident in the Netherlands is registered with their municipality. CBS has selected persons at random from this register to take part in this monitor. If you have received an invitation, you are one of those persons. The selected persons together represent the total group of residents aged 18 and over in the municipality.

Your name and address details will be used to send the invitation and any reminders to complete the questionnaire and to inform prize winners. This data will be erased three months after completion of the monitor.

2.2 Do I need to give permission somewhere for you to process my data?

No. By completing the online questionnaire (or sending the paper version), you agree in participating in the GGD Health Monitor 2024. We will remind you of this when you start the questionnaire.

Note that you don’t have to answer a certain question if you do not want to, you may adjust your answers, and you may stop filling in the questionnaire at any time. Your answers will be processed confidentially, will be stored safely and will not be shared with any party that is not named in the privacy statement.

If you complete the questionnaire online but decide to stop filling it in, all answers that you have already provided will be saved. Should you decide that you do not want your answers to be used in the monitor, we will erase your answers. For this, contact Ipsos I&O at NLhelpdeskGM@ipsos.com or call 0800-0191 (7 days a week, 09.00 – 21.00). Once you have provided your login details, Ipsos I&O can erase your answers.

2.3 Do I have to participate in the monitor?

No, participation in the monitor is entirely voluntary, although we would very much appreciate it if you do take part. Your participation is important, because the results of the monitor will be used by the municipality to better align its policies and activities with the needs and requirements of its residents.

2.4 How can I participate?

You can fill in the questionnaire online or on paper, although online is quicker as you automatically skip the questions that do not apply to you. Moreover, the online questionnaire is available in English, the paper questionnaire is not. The invitation letter contains your personal login code; fill this in at www.startvragenlijst.nl/ggd to start the questionnaire.

Do you prefer to fill in the questionnaire on paper? Then wait to participate until you receive a paper questionnaire from us. Once you fill in the paper questionnaire, you can return it in the enclosed return envelope without a stamp.

2.5 How long does it take to fill in the questionnaire?

Some people are quicker than others, but it should take about 30 minutes.

2.6 I’m doing fine, so do I still need to fill in the questionnaire?

Yes, please! The aim of this monitor is to get a good idea of how everyone aged 18 and over in the municipality is doing, not just people who are not doing so well. If only these people fill in the questionnaire, it will look like there are a lot of problems in a municipality, even though this may not be the case for everyone.

2.7 Why have I received a reminder?

We send a reminder to make sure that as many persons as possible complete the questionnaire. We use the login code or the code on the back of the paper questionnaire to work out who has not yet filled in the questionnaire. These persons receive a reminder. You will therefore also receive a reminder if you have started to fill in the questionnaire but have not yet completed it.

Note that all address data will be erased three months after completion of the monitor.

2.8 I have received a reminder, but I have already filled in the questionnaire. Why is that?

We probably received or processed your questionnaire after the reminders had been sent. You do not need to contact Ipsos I&O or the GGD about this. Just throw away the reminder.

You also receive a reminder if you have started to fill in the questionnaire but not yet completed it. In this case, please carry on filling in the questionnaire and complete it. If you leave the questionnaire then log in again, you can continue where you left off.

2.9 I can’t log in, what should I do?

Perhaps the Caps Lock is turned on or you have used capital letters in the login code when you should use small letters. You should type the address www.startvragenlijst.nl/ggd directly into the search window of your internet browser and not into a search engine (such as Google).

If you are unable to log in, please contact Ipsos I&O at NLhelpdeskGM@ipsos.com or call 0800 0191 (7 days a week, 09.00 – 21.00).

2.10 I have lost my login code. Can I get a new one?

We cannot send a new login code, but you can wait for the reminder letter, which you will receive about three weeks after the invitation. This reminder contains the login code.

2.11 My computer has stopped working. Now what?

Do not worry if you are unable to carry on filling in the questionnaire because of a problem with your computer or because the page has timed out. You can simply log in again after ten minutes and carry on. The system needs this time to recognise that you are no longer filling in the questionnaire. The filled in answers are saved automatically, so you don’t have to start the questionnaire again.

2.12 I stopped halfway. Now what?

You can stop filling in the questionnaire at any time. You can simply log in again and carry on. The filled in answers so far are saved automatically, so you don’t have to start the questionnaire again.

2.13 I have lost the return envelope. Now what?

You can send back the questionnaire in a normal envelope without a postage stamp to

I&O Research
Antwoordnummer 90275
3009 VB Rotterdam

2.14 Is it possible to withdraw from the study after I have completed the questionnaire?

By completing the questionnaire, you agree in participating in the GGD Health Monitor 2024.

Note that you do not have to answer certain questions if you do not want to, you may adjust your answers, and you may stop filling in the questionnaire at any time. If you want to stop halfway through and you do not want your answers to be saved, you will have to go back through the questionnaire to delete your answers. At the start of the questionnaire you will find the explanation of how to do this. You can also contact Ipsos I&O to delete your data. This is possible until December 8, 2024. Contact Ipsos I&O at NLhelpdeskGM@ipsos.com or call 0800 0191 (7 days a week, 09.00 – 21.00). Once you have provided your login details, Ipsos I&O will erase your answers.

2.15 Can someone else complete the questionnaire for me?

No, it is important that the questionnaire is filled in by the person to whom the invitation is sent. Please, check if your name is addressed on the invitation letter. If not, please give the questionnaire to the person it is addressed to.

People are selected to take part in the monitor at random, and the selected persons together provide an average representation of people in the whole of the municipality.

Are you unable to complete the questionnaire on your own? If so, ask a family member or someone else to help, but you must fill in your answers. You can also contact Ipsos I&O at NLhelpdeskGM@ipsos.com or call 0800-0191 (7 days a week, 09.00 – 21.00) if you need help filling out the questionnaire.

2.16 Can I get help filling in the questionnaire?

Yes, a helpdesk employee can assist you with filling in the questionnaire. You can get assistance in various languages. Call the helpdesk (Ipsos I&O) free of charge on 0800-0191 (7 days a week, 09.00 – 21.00).