4363.0 - National Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2014-15

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/07/2017

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Users' Guide + Introduction + Survey Design and Operation + Health conditions Self-assessed health Asthma Arthritis Cancer Heart and circulatory conditions Diabetes mellitus Kidney disease Osteoporosis Sight and hearing Long-term Conditions (Other) Disability Bodily pain Mental health and well-being Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10 (K10) Mental, behavioural and cognitive conditions Comorbidity + Health risk factors + Health related actions + Population characteristics + Data quality + Data output and dissemination About this Release	SELF-ASSESSED HEALTH STATUS Definition This is a single question about how respondents rated their overall health. Population Information was obtained for persons aged 15 years and over in the 2014-15 NHS. Methodology Information about self-assessed health status was published in the National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15 based on a sample of 15,396 people aged 15 years and over. After collecting demographic, education and employment information, and before any specific health questions were asked, respondents were asked whether in general they felt their health was: excellent very good good fair poor. Data items The data items and related output categories for this topic are available in Excel spreadsheet format from the Downloads page of this product. Interpretation Points to be considered in interpreting this topic include. This is a subjective question. Perceptions may be influenced by any number of factors which may be unrelated to health, or which may reflect momentary or short-term feelings or circumstances (rather than usual feelings or circumstances). Responses may have been influenced by factors involved in the interview itself such as the presence of another family member. However self-assessed health has been shown to be a good indication of a person's health at the population level. Information recorded for persons aged 15-17 may have been reported by an adult (usually a parent) within the household. A small number of adults may not have been able to answer for themselves due to illness or disability. In these cases, a person responsible for them was interviewed on their behalf, provided the interviewer was assured that this was acceptable to the subject person. Therefore, data for these groups may not be conceptually 'self-assessed' as responses may have been different if the children/adult had responded for themselves. Proxy use items are available on the data files for additional analysis if required. Comparability with 2011-12 Self-assessed health status data are considered directly comparable between the 2014-15 and 2011-13 AHS. In 2011-12, information about self-assessed health status was collected in both the NHS and the NNPAS surveys (i.e. the AHS Core). When making comparisons between 2014-15 and 2011-12 data it is recommended that: Where possible, comparisons are made using the Australian Health Survey: Updated Results, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4364.0.55.003) and Microdata: Australian Health Survey, Core Content - Risk Factors and Selected Health Conditions, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4324.0.55.003) for the most accurate information. For comparison of 2014-15 data with items which were only collected in the 2011-12 NHS, the Australian Health Survey: First Results, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4364.0.55.001) and Microdata: Australian Health Survey, National Health Survey, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4324.0.55.001) are used. Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.