Age standardisation
Age standardisation is used in this publication to allow the comparison of populations with different age structures. A standard age composition is used, in this case the age composition of the 2001 NHS benchmark population of Australia as at 30 June 2001. The age standardised estimate or proportion is that which would have prevailed in another point in time or in other geographic areas should the actual population have the standard age composition.
Alcohol risk level
The adult was placed into a risk level 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 comsuming alcohol in the previous week
- the quantity consumed on the three most recent days on which they consumed alcohol in that week. 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 comsumption is typical. The average daily consumption of alcohol associated with the risk levels is as follows:
ALCOHOL RISK LEVEL |
|  |
| Males | Females | |
| |
| Low risk | Less than 50 ml | Less than 25 ml | |
| Risky | 50 ml to 75 ml | 25 ml to 50 ml | |
| High risk | 75 ml or more | 50 ml or more | |
| |
Drinking status information was also collected for those who did not consume any alcohol in the seven days prior to interview:
- Last consumed more than one week to less than 12 months ago
- Last consumed two months or more ago
- Never consumed.
Body Mass Index
Calculated from self-reported height and weight information, using the formula weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m). 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.
Body Mass Index (BMI) |
| |
| BMI range | 2001 | |
| |
| Underweight | Less than 18.5 | |
| Normal range | 18.5 to less than 20.0 | |
| Overweight | 20.0 to less than 25.0 | |
| Obese | 25.0 to less than 30.0 | |
| |
Exercise level
Based on 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:
Index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage
One of 5 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 socioeconomic situation of the particular individual. The index used in this publication were those compiled following the 1996 Census. For further information about SEIFAs see Information Paper 1996 Census of Population and Housing: SocioEconomic Indexes for Areas (cat. no. 2039.0).
Long-term condition
A condition which in the respondent's opinion has lasted for 6 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)
These included cancer, diabetes/high sugar levels, heart and circulatory conditions, injuries, mental health and asthma in 2001. Arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases have been added in 2002.
Other health professional (OHP)
As defined for this survey, OHPs included the following:
- Aboriginal health worker (not elsewhere classified)
- Accredited counsellor
- Acupuncturist
- Alcohol and drug worker (not elsewhere classified)
- 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.
Self-assessed health status
Refers to respondent's general assessment of their own health, against a five point scale from excellent through to poor. In the 1995 and 2001 National Health Surveys, the question used to determine self-assessed health status was, "In general, would you say your health is: Excellent, very good, good, fair or poor?".
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