The increase of the elderly populations throughout the world has been investigated by many studies with a view to proving all the information necessary for the determination of policy and planning services. Steps to be taken in the preparation of questionnaires are discussed and common errors to be avoided are indicated. Differences in methodologies between community, mail and telephone surveys are also discussed. The BOAS (Brazil Old Age Schedule), questionnaire, which has been developed to survey the elderly population living in Rio de Janeiro is presented as also are its manual, code book and the method employed for the training of field-work researchers.
Demographic aging; Aged; Questionnaires; Interviews; Health surveys