QUALITY DECLARATION - SUMMARY
INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT
TableBuilder and Confidentialised Unit Record File (CURF) datasets are released in accordance with the conditions specified in the Statistics Determination section of the Census and Statistics Act 1905. This ensures that confidentiality is maintained whilst enabling user specified aggregate data to be released. More information on the confidentiality practices associated with the TableBuilder can be found in the Confidentiality chapter in TableBuilder, User Guide (cat. no. 1406.0.55.005). More information on the confidentiality practices associated with CURFs can be found in the CURF chapter from the Microdata Entry Page.
For information on the institutional environment of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), including the legislative obligations of the ABS, financing and governance arrangements, and mechanisms for scrutiny of ABS operations, please see ABS Institutional Environment.
RELEVANCE
Microdata from the National Health Survey, 2011-12 are available in TableBuilder, a Basic CURF and an Expanded CURF. These microdata include information on Household demographics, Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Education qualifications, Occupation, Industry, Country of Birth, General dietary information, Physical measurements, Long-term medical conditions, Alcohol and Smoking use, Biomedical data, Sex and Age. For more information on the level of detail available, refer to the data item lists for the individual products on the Downloads page, as the detail and availability of some data items varies between the products.
TIMELINESS
The 2011-12 National Health Survey (NHS) was conducted between 6 March 2011 and 17 March 2012 as part of the Australian Health Survey (AHS). The TableBuilder product was released approximately 18 months after enumeration was completed, while the Expanded CURF was released approximately 30 months after enumeration was completed. Following a client request, the Basic CURF was released approximately 60 months after enumeration was completed .
ACCURACY
The microdata contain levels of detail of data items generally greater than those found in publications. For more information on the level of detail provided for the microdata, see the associated data item lists on the Downloads page of this product.
Steps have been taken to confidentialise these microdata to protect the confidentiality of selected respondents while maintaining accuracy. Data may have been collapsed, restricted, perturbed or otherwise masked to ensure respondents cannot be identified. As a result, it may not be possible to reconcile all statistics produced from these microdata with each other, or other published statistics.
COHERENCE
Results from the most recent household survey on this topic can be found in National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15 (cat. no. 4364.0.55.001). Microdata are also available.
Other information related to the NHS 2011-12 can be found in Australian Health Survey: Health Service Usage and Health Related Actions, 2011-12 - Related Information (cat. no. 4364.0.55.002). Data from earlier Health Surveys can be obtained by contacting the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.
Much of the content of the health surveys conducted by the ABS since 2001 is comparable. There are some differences in sample design and content, survey methodology and content, definitions and classifications, and these may affect the interpretation of apparent changes in health characteristics.
The Interpretation of Results section of Australian Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001) provides more detailed information on the comparability of the 2011-12 NHS and the 2007-08 NHS.
INTERPRETABILITY
The information within this product should be referred to when using the microdata. It contains information including Survey methodology, File structure, Using the TableBuilder, Using the Basic CURF, Using the Expanded CURF, Conditions of use and the Data Item List.
The Australian Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2011-13 (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001) includes information on the survey objectives, survey methods and design, survey content, data quality and interpretation, output data items, information about the availability of results and comparability with previous surveys. Further information can also be found in the Explanatory Notes section of Australian Health Survey: Health Service Usage and Health Related Actions, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4364.0.55.002).
ACCESSIBILITY
Microdata products are available to approved users. Users wishing to access the microdata should familiarise themselves with information available via the Microdata Entry Page.
NHS 2011-12 can be accessed using TableBuilder, a Basic CURF and an Expanded CURF.
Any questions regarding access to microdata can be forwarded to microdata.access@abs.gov.au or phone (02) 6252 7714.
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