Frequently asked questions/FAQs
What is GEPASA?
The Saxony Regional Health Panel (Gesundheitspanel Sachsen - GEPASA) is a survey on the state of health and healthcare from the perspective of Saxony's residents.
Why have I received a letter and where did you get my address from?
Your address was randomly selected from a register of the residents' registration office at your place of residence, as is legally permitted for research projects (see § 46 BMG and the regulations no. 33 to § 46 BMG "group information" and no. 34 to § 47 BMG "purpose of the residents' registration office information"). Your name and address are not known to the research team at the Center for Evidence-Based Health Care (Branch Office at the Medical Campus Chemnitz) and are only available to the independent trustee office of the TU Dresden. The trustee office needs your name and address to be able to contact you again for the next survey within the project.
Who is running and coordinating the project?
The project is being carried out at the Center for Evidence-Based Health Care (Branch Office at the Medical Campus Chemnitz) at the Technische Universität Dresden. The project is also supported by the Department of Health and Prevention of the City of Dresden, the Saxon State Medical Association and the Medical Faculty of the Technische Universität Dresden.
The project is being led by Prof. Dr. Jochen Schmitt, Prof. Dr. Markus Kösters, Dr. Lorenz Harst and Dr. Tina Haase.
Why should I fill out and return the questionnaires?
With your help, we can create a representative picture of the opinions and feelings of the people in your region regarding the current state of the healthcare system. This will help us to improve the healthcare system in your region. We would be very grateful if you were to support our project and help to improve the healthcare system in your region by participating in the periodic surveys.
What happens to my data during the project?
Your data will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and will not be used for purposes not related to the project. If you agree to participate in the project, your name and address will only be disclosed to the Independent Trust Office of the Carl Gustav Carus Medical Faculty of the TU Dresden. The researchers evaluating the data will only be aware of your responses, which will not be linked to your name or address. If you do not wish to participate in the survey, your personal data will be deleted. The Ethics Commission of the TU Dresden and the Saxon State Data Protection Officer have approved the project (file number BO-EK-320072022).
What happens to my data after the project?
The collected data will be used exclusively for the GEPASA project and will not be used for any other purpose after the project has been completed. After a retention period of 10 years after the end of the project, your data will be deleted.
Will I receive further letters?
In order to be able to assess developments over time, it is important to interview the same people regularly. Therefore, GEPASA would like to regularly interview the same people (at least every 2 years) about how they rate healthcare in Saxony.
Who can I contact if I have any questions?
You can reach us by telephone on 0371 - 333 35320 or by e-mail at gepasa@tu-dresden.de.