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Health care insurance companies often conduct sample surveys of health plan members. Survey purposes include: consumer satisfaction with the plan and members’ health status, functional status, health literacy and/or health services utilization outside of the plan. Vendors or contractors typically conduct these surveys for insurers. Survey results may be used for plans’ accreditation, evaluation, quality improvement and/or marketing. This article describes typical sampling plans and data analysis strategies used in these surveys, showing how these methods may result in biased estimators of population parameters (e.g. percentage of plan members who are satisfied). Practical suggestions are given to improve these surveys: alternate sampling plans, increasing the response rate, component calculation for the survey response rate, weighted analyses, and adjustments for unit non-response. Since policy, regulation, accreditation, management and marketing decisions are based, in part, on results from these member surveys, these important and numerous surveys need to be of higher quality.

Socioeconomic status (SES) is a fundamental social cause of disease. The association of SES with chronic renal failure has received limited study. Older persons and blacks are at significantly increased risk for this health condition, which is also known as end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Among ESRD cases and controls aged 56-88, we investigated whether SES was predictive of ESRD, independent of subjects' race, sex, age, and history of diabetes. Our SES measure combined information about individuals' education and occupation. In race-specific logistic regression models, there was a trend for higher SES to be protective against ESRD. In a combined model, controlling for the effects of race, sex, age, and diabetes, the SES effect was statistically significant. Diabetes and hypertension, important ESRD risk factors, are also related to SES. The adverse “effect” of black race on a health outcome like ESRD may be expressed preferentially among economically disadvantaged persons. Improved understanding of race, SES, and age vis-à-vis a chronic condition such as ESRD requires studies in which cohort changes in health, resources, access to care, and service utilization are monitored longitudinally and analyzed using a life course perspective.

This paper examines the British fashion retailer Jigsaw in its strategy of “individualising” its outlets in the highly competitive British high street environment. In order to distinguish itself in the marketplace as an independent retailer with an acute sense of site and to maximise the impact of its outlets in a diverse range of locations, Jigsaw has deliberately commissioned a series of designers to create a series of memorable and challenging interiors with much resulting critical and financial success. This paper examines the work of two contrasting architects and their interior work, highlighting the individualistic approach to the high street taken by Jigsaw. This proactive attitude taken to both the place and face of design in its outlets has allowed Jigsaw both to tailor its image as required and to add perceived value to its merchandise. This paper examines the impact that design has had in facilitating this success.