ALCOHOL RISK LEVEL
The adult was divided into risk levels determined by their estimated average daily alcohol consumption in the seven days prior to interview. Average daily consumption in the previous seven days was estimated using two components:
- the number of days on which the respondent reported consuming alcohol in the previous week
- the quantity consumed on the three most recent days on which they consumed alcohol. For people who drank on no more than three days in the last week, their daily average was simply the total consumed divided by seven.
Risk levels are based on the NHMRC risk levels for harm in the long term, and assumes the level of alcohol is typical. The average daily consumption of alcohol associated with risk levels is as follows:
 |
| Males | Females | |
| |
| Low risk | 50ml or less | 25ml or less | |
| Risky | More than 50ml, up to 75ml | More than 25ml, up to 50ml | |
| High risk | More than 75ml | More than 50ml | |
| |
BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)
BMI is calculated from self-reported height and weight information, using the formula weight (kg) divided by the square of height(m). The data collected in the 2001 NHS are considered to be underestimates of overweight and obesity since studies have shown that respondents tend to overestimate height and underestimate weight (ABS 1995).
To produce a measure of the prevalence of overweight or obesity in adults, BMI values are grouped according to the table below which allows categories to be reported against both WHO and NHMRC guidelines.
DAYS AWAY
Refers to days on which the respondent was away from work, school or other educational institution (as appropriate) for at least half the day. Absences included days away due to respondent’s own illness or injury, or to care for another person with an illness or injury. Employed persons away from both work and school/study have been included under days away from work only.
DENTIST
Includes dentist, orthodontist, dental nurse, dental technician and dental mechanic.
DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE
Blood pressure between heartbeats, the lowest blood pressure during the cardiac cycle (Blacks medical dictionary 1992).
EXERCISE LEVEL
Derived from frequency, intensity (i.e. walking, moderate exercise and vigorous exercise) and duration of exercise (for recreation, sport or fitness) in the two weeks prior to interview. From these components, an exercise score was derived using factors to represent the intensity of the exercise. Scores were grouped for output as follows:
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION
Fruit included fresh, dried, frozen and tinned. A serve of fruit was defined as approximately 150 grams of fresh fruit or 50 grams of dried fruit. To assist respondents in the interview, they were shown photos of individual fruit serves as medium piece of fruit, two small pieces of fruit or a cup of diced fruit. A single serve of dried fruit was described, if required, as one-quarter of a cup of sultanas or four dried apricot halves.
Vegetables included all types such as potatoes, salad and stir-fried vegetables, whether fresh, frozen or tinned. A serve of vegetables was defined as approximately 75 grams of vegetables. To assist respondents in the interview, they were shown photos of single serves of vegetables as half a cup of cooked vegetables or one cup of salad vegetables.
GOVERNMENT HEALTH CONCESSION CARDS
Includes Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and treatment entitlement cards issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
HEALTH RELATED ACTION
Refers to one or more of the following actions taken in relation to the respondent's own health in the two weeks prior to interview:
- discharge from a stay in hospital as an admitted patient
- visit to casualty/emergency at hospital
- visit to outpatients at hospital
- visit to day clinic
- consultation with general practitioner (GP) or specialist
- dental consultation
- consultation with other health professional (OHP): see below
- day away from work or school (due to own illness or injury)
- other days of reduced activity (days other than days away from work or school/study) due to own illness or injury.
HIGHEST EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
The level of the highest educational qualification obtained since leaving school.
HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION
Based on usual residents of households, as reported at the time of the survey.
INCOME OF INCOME UNIT
An income unit may comprise one person or group of related persons (de facto or registered marriage or parent/dependent child relationship) within a household whose command over income is assumed to be shared. An income unit may therefore include the partner (for couples), all children aged less than 15 years, and children aged 15-24 years provided they are unmarried, full-time students and do not have dependants of their own. In this survey income unit income is the sum of the respondent's cash income and the cash income of their spouse/partner (where applicable). The income of any children within the units is not included.
INDEX OF RELATIVE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DISADVANTAGE
One of five of the Socio-economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFAs) compiled by the ABS following each population census. Each of the indexes summarise different aspects of the socioeconomic condition of areas; the index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage includes attributes such as low income, low educational attainment, high unemployment and jobs in relatively unskilled occupations. The index refers to the area (the Census Collector's District) in which a person lives, not to the socio-economic situation of the particular individual. The Index used in this publication were those compiled following the 1996 census. For further information about the SEIFAs see Information Paper: Census of Population and Housing - Socio-economic Indexes for Areas, Australia, 1996 (cat. no. 2039.0).
INJURY EVENT
An injury event is an event meeting the following criteria:
- the event was an accident, harmful incident, exposure to harmful factors or other incident
- which occurred in the four weeks prior to interview
- which resulted in an injury
- which resulted in one or more of the following actions being taken: consulting a health professional, seeking medical advice, receiving medical treatment, reducing usual activities, other treatment of injury such as taking medications, or using a bandage or band aid or heat or ice pack.
LABOUR FORCE STATUS
Refers to the employment situation of respondents at the time of the survey.
Categories are:
- Employed (aged 15 years and over and had a job in the week prior to the survey),
- Unemployed (aged 15 years and over, were not employed and actively looked for work in the four weeks prior to the survey)
- Not in the labour force (all children less than 15 years, and persons 15 years and over or more who were neither employed or unemployed).
LOCATION
From the ASGC Main structure classification. Further details are contained in the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), 2001 (cat. no. 1216.0).
LONG-TERM CONDITION
A condition which in the respondent's opinion has lasted for six months or more, or which he or she expects will last for six months or more. Some conditions reported were assumed to be long-term conditions. These included asthma, cancer, diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2, rheumatic heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
NATIONAL HEALTH PRIORITY AREAS (NHPA)
Included cancer, diabetes/high sugar levels, heart and circulatory conditions, injuries, mental health and asthma in 2001. In 2002, arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases were added.
OCCUPATION OF MAIN JOB
Occupation was classified to ASCO - Australian Standard Classification of Occupations, Second Edition, 1997 (cat. no. 1220.0).
OEDEMA
Excessive accumulation of fluid in the tissue spaces, due to increased passing of the fluid from the capillaries.
OTHER DAYS OF REDUCED ACTIVITY
Days other than days away from work or from school/study on which a person had cut down on their usual activities for at least half the day, as a result of personal injury or illness.
OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL (OHP)
Comprises:
- Aboriginal health worker (nec)
- Accredited counsellor
- Acupuncturist
- Alcohol and drug worker (nec)
- Audiologist/audiometrist
- Chemist (for advice)
- Chiropodist/podiatrist
- Chiropractor
- Dietitian/nutritionist
- Herbalist
- Hypnotherapist
- Naturopath
- Nurse
- Occupational therapist
- Optician/optometrist
- Osteopath
- Physiotherapist/hydrotherapist
- Psychologist
- Social worker/welfare officer
- Speech therapist/pathologist.
PHARMACEUTICAL MEDICATIONS
Any medication used in the last two weeks prior to interview for a given condition (high blood pressure, high cholesterol) other than medications identified by respondents as vitamins or minerals, or natural or herbal medications.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Refers to exercise undertaken in the two weeks prior to interview through sport, recreation or fitness (including walking). Incidental exercise undertaken for other reasons, such as for work or while engaged in domestic duties was excluded. See exercise level.
SELF-ASSESSED HEALTH STATUS
Refers to respondent's general assessment of their own health, against a five point scale from excellent through to poor.
SMOKER STATUS
Refers to the smoking status of adults at the time of the interview, and incorporates the notion of (regular) smoking, as reported by respondents. Categories are:
- daily smoker (current regular smoker)
- not regular smoker (current but not regular)
- ex-regular smoker
- never smoked regularly.
Smoking refers to the regular smoking of tobacco, including manufactured (packet) cigarettes, roll your own cigarettes, cigars and pipes, but excludes chewing tobacco and smoking of non-tobacco products.
SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE
The peak blood pressure at each heartbeat (Black’s medical dictionary 1992).
Print Page
Print All