4363.0 - National Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2017-18  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/04/2019   
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Bodily pain

Definition


This topic refers to the severity of bodily or physical pain experienced by the respondent, from any or all causes, and the extent to which it interfered with normal work.

Population


Information was obtained for all persons aged 18 years and over.

Methodology


This topic was collected within the Mental Wellbeing module.

Respondents were asked how much bodily pain they had experienced, from any or all causes, in the 4 weeks prior to interview. Response categories were:

    • None
    • Very mild
    • Mild
    • Moderate
    • Severe
    • Very severe.

If the respondent had experienced any bodily pain, they were then asked if it had interfered with their normal work, including both work outside the home and housework. Response categories were:
    • Not at all
    • A little bit
    • Moderately
    • Quite a bit
    • Extremely.

Data items


The questionnaire, data items and related output categories for this topic are available in pdf / Excel spreadsheet format from the Downloads page of this product.

Interpretation


Points to be considered in interpreting data for this topic include the following:
    • Respondents were asked to indicate the severity of any bodily pain that they had experienced (from any and all causes) during the 4 weeks prior to interview.
    • Interference with normal work includes work or housework activities that the respondent did, or would have done, during the 4 weeks prior to interview.
    • Those respondents incapable of being present for the interview due to illness or disability, and who were represented by a proxy, were recorded as being 'Not asked' for the Mental Wellbeing module. In 2017-18, 4.0% of respondents aged 18 years and over were not asked these questions.

Comparability with 2014-15


Bodily pain data are considered directly comparable between the 2014-15 and the 2017-18 NHS.

More information regarding comparisons between 2014-15 NHS and previous cycles is available in the National Health Survey: Users' Guide, 2014-15 (cat. no. 4363.0).