The Health Survey for England Datasets Melanie Doyle (National Centre for Social Research) Paola Primatesta (University College London)

Overview Overview of surveys: HSE, SHS, WHS Focus on 2003 and on HSE Survey structure Sample design Quality control Response rates Reports and resources

Structure: HSE, SHS, WHS Self compCAI, Self comp CAI, Self comp Interview 30,00010,00016,000Adults est -4,0004,200Children est All Up to 10Adults AllUp to 2 Children NoYes Nurse visit 0+0+(c), 0-15(b)0+Eligible WHSSHSHSE

Sample: HSE, SHS, WHS 3026(c), 18(b)19Addresses Up to 3 Households PSUs selected P SectCarstairs%HH NM2 LARegionHA1 Stratification Combine PSU< Qtr PsectPsect PSU PAF Sample frame WHSSHSHSE

HSE boost samples: 2002 Populations boosted in some years HSE 2002: Children and young adults, maternal health –Target: 10,800 adults and 9,100 children –38 address/sector –Half general population sample (9 addresses/sector) Up to 10 adults (16+) and up to children (0-15) eligible –Boost of children, young adults mothers Up to 10 adults (16-24), up to 2 children (0-15) eligible Mothers (natural mothers of children under 1)

HSE boost samples: 2004 HSE 2004: Minority ethnic groups –In 2004: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Black African, Black Caribbean, Chinese, Irish –Half general population sample –Boost sample design (similar approach to 1999) –Strata: based on proportion of population within different ethnic groups –Sample type: sectors grouped to six sample types samples varied by groups screened at method of screening

Quality control Field: –Selection, training –Supervision, backchecks (telephone and letter) –CAPI checks on data and measurements (hard, soft) –CAPI nurselink, helpline Data quality: –Code/Edit procedures –CAPI data and lab results –Brentwood/London –Team: Operations, Computing, Data Manager Response

Response rates: 2001 Issued addresses:13,680 Deadwood: 9% –business, vacant or demolished properties –excluded from sample Household response: 74% –Percentage of HH where at least one eligible adult was interviewed –GHS response rate, calculated in the same way, was 74%

Response rates: 2001 Response at different stages (adults) – % of eligible of interviewed –Interviewed89%100% –Height83% 93% –Weight80% 90% –Nurse visit71% 80% –Blood pressure 70% 78% –Saliva sample69% 77% –Blood sample54% 60%

Reports and resources Reports –Published Report (TSO: –Trend tables ( General info: –Department of Health ( –NatCen ( –UCL ( –EHRM ( Resources –Data archive ( –Question bank (qb.soc.surrey.ac.uk) –Code book (

Ethnic boost, CVD2004 CVD2003 Children/young adults boost2002 Respiratory (atopic), disability, accidents2001 Older people boost, care homes2000 Ethnic boost, CVD1999 CVD1998 Children/young adults boost1997 Respiratory (atopic), accidents1996 Respiratory (atopic), disability, accidents1995 CVD1994

Data collection (England, Scotland) Interviewer visit –Household and Individual questionnaires –self-completion questionnaires (age 8+) –height (age 2+) and weight measurements (age 0+) –all aged interviewed in person –children proxy information from parent Nurse visit –prescribed medication –blood pressure and other measurements

Welsh Health Survey (HIS) Household interview Adults: self-completion, 45 questions Children: self-completion, 4 questions (filled by parent/guardian)

Adult self-completion (Wales) Health service use Use of medicines General health, GHQ12 Smoking, drinking Fruit and vegetable consumption Physical activity Carers Demographics Self-reported height and weight

General health measures Social capital Social support GHQ12 Use of health services General health, LSI, acute sickness SHSHSE

Risk factors Use of HRT Contraception Fruit and vegetable consumption Physical activity Alcohol consumption Smoking SHSHSE

Area and dwelling type Housing tenure Car ownership Household income Benefit receipt Ethnic group Marital status Educational attainment Economic status/occupation Full household composition SHSHSESocio-demographic information

Nurse visit Prescribed medicines and vitamin supplements Food poisoning (SHS) Blood pressure (5+) Lung function (7+) Waist/hip circumference (16+, 11+) Demi-span (65+) Supine length (6 weeks to <2 years) Electrocardiogram (35+, 65+)

Nurse visit (ctd) Saliva sample (4+) Blood sample: - non-fasting (11+) - fasting (35+, 16+) Urine sample (16+)