OTHER LONG-TERM CONDITIONS

Definition

A long-term condition is defined as a condition that is current and has lasted, or is expected to last, for 6 months or more. This topic collects other long-term conditions not previously collected in specific conditions modules (e.g. diabetes, cancer, asthma) and are not required to have been diagnosed by a health professional (i.e. ‘medically’ diagnosed).

Population

Information was obtained for all persons in the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS).

Methodology

Initial data for other long-term conditions was collected via a prompt card showing the following conditions:

• hayfever
• sinusitis or sinus allergy
• food allergy
• drug allergy
• other allergy/tuberculosis
• anaemia
• bronchitis
• emphysema
• epilepsy
• fluid problems/fluid retention/oedema (excluding those due to heart or circulatory conditions)
• hernias
• kidney stones
• migraine
• psoriasis
• stomach/other gastrointestinal ulcers
• thyroid trouble/goiter
• depression
• feeling depressed
• back - slipped disc or other disc problems
• back pain or other problems.

More than one response was allowed.

Respondents were then asked to report any other conditions (not reported earlier) that had lasted or were expected to last six months or more. If these conditions matched those on the long-term query list the respondent was then asked how long the condition had lasted for in days, weeks, months or years. There was capacity to report up to six other conditions. If more than six conditions were identified the six main conditions were recorded. Those respondents that reported they had a National Health Priority Area (NHPA) condition and were 18 years or older were then asked if they were advised of the condition by a doctor or nurse.

In a last attempt to capture all conditions, respondents were asked to report any other conditions (not reported earlier) that keep coming back now and again; had for a long time but became used to; or are no longer a problem because of medicine or tablets. If these conditions matched those on the long-term query list the respondent was then asked how long the condition had lasted for in days, weeks, months or years. There was capacity to report up to six other conditions. If more than six conditions were identified the six main conditions were recorded. Those respondents that reported they had a National Health Priority Area (NHPA) condition and were 18 years or older were then asked if they were advised of the condition by a doctor or nurse.

A list of NHPA conditions can be found as part of the supplementary information in the Other Long-term Conditions module of the NATSIHS questionnaire, available in PDF format from the Downloads page of this product.

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:

• The conditions data collected in the other long-term conditions topic relate to conditions 'as reported' by respondents and hence do not necessarily represent conditions as medically diagnosed. However, as the data relate to conditions which had lasted or were expected to last for six months or more, there is considered to be a reasonable likelihood that medical diagnoses would have been made in most cases. The degree to which conditions have been medically diagnosed is likely to differ across condition types.
• While the methodology was aimed at maximising the identification of long-term conditions, some under-reporting may have occurred, particularly in respect of those conditions which are controlled by treatment (such as epilepsy) or recur infrequently, or those to which respondents have become accustomed and no longer consider an illness.
• The absence or inclusion of conditions on prompting material may cause differences in the level of reporting for these conditions when comparing to other surveys with similar content.

Comparability with 2004-05 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS)

Data collected in the 2012-13 NATSIHS are considered comparable to that of the 2004-05 survey.

However, it should be noted that care should be taken when comparing data related to 'feeling depressed' and 'depression' between the two surveys as a result of differences in prompting for conditions, for example use of or content of prompt cards, between non-remote and remote in 2004-05 and between 2004-05 and 2012-13.

Comparability with 2008 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (NATSISS)

Other long-term conditions information was not collected in the 2008 NATSISS, therefore no comparisons can be made.

Comparability with 2011-12 National Health Survey (NHS)

A prompt card used in the 2011-12 NHS containing certain other long-term health conditions was incorrectly excluded from the 2012-13 NATSIHS. This resulted in a small number of conditions not being prompted for, and primarily affects estimates for a number of mental health conditions. There is no effect on the other health conditions. Data on mental health conditions (other than the specific conditions of 'feeling depressed' and 'depression' which were part of prompted conditions) is therefore not comparable with the 2011-12 NHS and not available for release.

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