National Health Survey, 2004-05, Basic and Expanded
 

The 2004-05 National Health Survey CURF contains unidentified individual statistical records with information about 25,906 persons, including geographical information; household and income unit type; demographic, education and labour force characteristics; income and equivalised income; private health insurance coverage and coverage by health concession cards; long-term medical conditions experienced, with a focus on the National Health Priority Area conditions of diabetes, cancer, asthma, arthritis and cardiovascular conditions; recent injuries; indicators of mental health and well-being; recent visits to hospitals and day clinics; consultations with doctors, dentists and other health professionals; days away from work or study due to illness; use of medications; smoking; alcohol consumption; exercise; dietary habits; self-assessed height and weight; adult and children's immunisation; breastfeeding; and hormone replacement therapy for women.

Two CURFs from the 2004-05 National Health Survey are available:

  • BASIC - this CURF contains a basic set of data items at a reduced level of detail. It is available to access on CD-ROM or via the ABS Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL).
  • EXPANDED - this CURF contains an expanded set of data items at a more detailed level than the Basic CURF, and is accessible only through the RADL.

Principle differences between the Basic and Expanded CURFs are outlined below. Full details can be found in Appendix 1 of the
Information Paper: National Health Survey - Confidentialised Unit Record Files (cat. no. 4324.0).


Demographic and other general characteristics

Additional items on the Expanded file include registered marital status, relationship in household, personal gross weekly cash income, sources of cash income of income unit and type of pension/benefit received. Items shown in greater detail on the expanded file include age, country of birth, year of arrival in Australia, occupation, industry, level of highest qualifications and source(s) of personal cash income. The Expanded file also includes some demographic details on all persons in the household which the Basic file does not contain.



Geographic and related characteristics


Additional items on the Expanded file are section of State, capital city/rest of State, SEIFA index of economic resources and index of disadvantage.



Health status indicators


On the Expanded file, more detailed information provided includes information about cancer status, ages first told of certain conditions, and injury events (eg. number, types and location).



Health related actions


On the Expanded file, finer detail provided includes information about recent stay in hospital, types of other health professionals consulted and number of visits to doctors, dentists and specialists and hospital, casualty, outpatients and day clinics.



Health risk factors


More detailed information on the Expanded file includes the types, frequencies and quantities of alcohol consumed, times exercised, body mass and smoking history.


For more information about the content of the CURFs see Information Paper: National Health Survey - Confidentialised Unit Record Files (cat. no. 4324.0).

For more information on the 2004-05 National Health Survey see
National Health Survey: Users' Guide (cat. no. 4363.0.55.001).

Users should also consult:
National Health Survey and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2004/5: Data Reference Package (cat. no. 4363.0.55.002).