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CONDITION-SPECIFIC HEALTH ACTIONS

Definition

This topic refers to information collected about condition-specific health actions that respondents may have taken in relation to certain long-term condition(s).

Population

Some questions about actions taken were asked only of respondents with a particular condition, while other questions were asked of all selected persons in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS). These are described below.

Methodology

Respondents were asked about the following condition-specific actions.

Asthma

Within the Asthma module, the following information was collected:

• whether, other than vitamins or herbal medicines, they had taken any medicine or tablets, or used a puffer, for their asthma in the last 2 weeks
• whether the respondent had been woken by asthma or wheezing in the last 4 weeks.

• whether their asthma had got worse or out of control in the last 12 months and if so whether the respondent went to a hospital or emergency department
• whether the respondent had a written action plan; that is, written instructions of what to do if their asthma becomes worse or out of control.

• for males aged 18 years and over, whether they had ever been tested for prostate cancer
• for females aged 18 years and over, whether they had ever had a mammogram. If yes, they were then asked why they had their last mammogram and whether they have regular mammograms. If they have regular mammograms, they were asked how often they usually have a mammogram, and if they do not have regular mammograms they are asked whether they have a mammogram at least every 2 years
• for females aged 18 years and over, whether they had ever had a pap smear test. If yes, they were then asked whether they have regular pap smear tests. If they have regular pap smear tests, they were asked what is the usual time between their pap smears; if they had only had one pap smear test before they were asked when did they have the pap smear test; and if they do not have regular pap smear tests they are asked whether they have had a pap smear at least every 2 years and if they have had more than one pap smear test
• whether they had ever been tested for any type of cancer, and if so, if it was in the last 2 years. If they had been tested, they were asked for the type of cancer they had been tested for:
  • for males: bowel cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer or other
  • for females: bowel cancer, breast cancer (that is, had a mammogram), cervical cancer (had a pap smear), skin cancer, lung cancer or other.

• whether they were currently receiving treatment for the cancer.

• whether the respondent had their cholesterol checked in the last 12 months. This question was asked of respondents aged 18 years and over, however, excludes non-remote respondents who answered 'no' to the cholesterol checked in the last 5 years question mentioned below
• whether the respondent's blood pressure had been checked in the last 12 months, and if so, who usually performs their blood pressure checks. These questions were asked of respondents aged 18 years and over with a heart or circulatory condition
• whether the respondent takes aspirin on a daily basis and if so, whether this was advised by their doctor. These questions were asked of respondent 18 years and over with a heart or circulatory condition; and
• whether, other than vitamins or herbal medicines, they had taken any medicine or tablets for their heart or circulatory problems in the last 2 weeks. This question was asked of all respondent with a heart or circulatory condition.

• whether the respondent had their cholesterol checked in the last 5 years. This question was asked of non-remote respondents aged 18-44 years with a heart or circulatory condition, and of all non-remote respondents aged 45 years and over.
• whether the respondent's blood pressure had been checked in the last 2 years. This question was asked of all non-remote respondents aged 18 years and over.

• whether, other than vitamins or herbal medicines, they had taken any medicine or tablets for their arthritis in the last 2 weeks.

• whether, other than vitamins or herbal medicines, they had taken any medicine or tablets for their osteoporosis/osteopenia in the last 2 weeks.

• whether they have ever had their bone mineral density tested, and if yes, whether the test had been taken in the last 2 years.

• whether the respondent had been tested for diabetes/high sugar levels in the last 3 years
• whether they were currently taking insulin every day, and if so, the age at which they started taking insulin on a daily basis
• whether, other than vitamins or herbal medicines, they had taken any medicine or tablets for their diabetes or sugar problems in the last 2 weeks
• whether they were currently following changed eating patterns or diet due to diabetes/high sugar levels
• whether any self-management actions were taken for diabetes, in the last 2 weeks, which could include:
  • losing weight
  • exercising on most days
  • taking vitamin or mineral supplements
  • taking natural or herbal treatments
  • other (unspecified) actions.

• frequency of blood glucose checks in the last 12 months
• frequency of foot checks in the last 12 months
• whether they had had an HbA1c test done in the last 12 months.

• whether they have ever had dialysis (or used a kidney machine)
• whether they have been tested for kidney disease in the last 3 years.

• whether any sight conditions reported were caused by diabetes, and if so, what type
• time since last consulted an eye specialist/optometrist.

• As with other aspects of health behaviour, some respondents may have answered some questions in a way that they felt presented their behaviour as more responsible or acceptable than was actually the case (e.g. in relation to frequency of testing blood glucose levels). The extent of such reporting biases have not been investigated for this survey.
• Respondents may not state their condition within the specific-condition module, however, later state the condition as part of the 'Other Long-term Conditions' module. In these instances, although their condition will be included at the Condition level, they will not have answered specific questions about this condition and may result in under-reporting of some condition-specific health actions.