Data Swedish National Study on Aging and Care (SNAC)

Summary

The strengths of the SNAC-study are its cross-sectional approach, the regional profiles and that it can add knowledge to information available in registries. Available information does not specify times of data collection and design. The basic idea behind SNAC is that for a long time (30 years or more) make a sectoral individual-based data collection, as well as describing the aging process, health and appearance of the care needs of the social, medical and psychological point of view, and record the efforts that individuals receive from municipal elderly care and county health care. Even data that highlights the efforts relatives and NGOs doing collected. The data are organized in a longitudinal database.

Type of data

Data Source
Registry + Survey

Type of Study
Survey different
Crosssection regular
Cohort study

Data gathering method
Face-to-face
Registries
Other: Bio-med data, cognitive and psychological functions, lifestyle, participation , environment and economy through various methods. Special follow up in population study on elderly receiving social assistance/services.

Access to data

Conditions of access
On site access and downloadable files.

Type of available data (e.g. anonymised microdata, aggregated tables, etc.)
Anonymised microdata and aggregated tables.

Formats available
Data set is compatible with Excel, SAS, SPSS, STATA, Text, etc.

Coverage

Coverage Years of collection, reference years, and sample sizes
In 1999, the Swedish Ministry for Social Affairs promoted and supported a national project aimed at monitoring and evaluating the care-of-the-elderly system in Sweden. To achieve these aims, four longitudinal, individual-based data collections describing the ageing process and encompassing the care system as a whole, were initiated. This project was named The Swedish National Study on Aging and Care (SNAC). SNAC-K is one of the four sub-projects included in SNAC. The ultimate goal of SNAC-K is to understand the ageing process and to identify possible preventive strategies to improve health and care in elderly adults.

First year of collection
1999

Stratification if applicable
Two parts: Population and care services system. The study design, builds upon the joining of two perspectives: The population perspective and The care system perspective. Population perspective In the population part of the SNAC-study, a large, representative panel of elderly in different age cohorts from 60 years and above is followed over time in order to record the development of personal characteristics, as well as social and economic circumstances. Care system In the care system perspective, there is a systematic, longitudinal, individually-based collection of data concerning the operations of the long-term care system - volume and character of services provided in relation to needs and dependency, costs, staff input, etc.

Base used for sampling

Geographical coverage and breakdowns
Four different regions of Sweden are covered: Snac-Kungsholmen/Stockholm, Snac-Nordanstig, Snac-Blekinge, Snac-Skåne.

Age range
Individuals aged 60 – 72 and 78 – 100.

Statistical representativeness
Special group, please specify

Coverage of main and cross-cutting topics
At present most of the information about the functioning of the system of long-term care for the elderly is provided by cross-sectional statistics and studies directed towards different parts of the system. The official statistics cannot answer the fundamental question of how resources are allocated according to needs. Also, most current research studies concerning the elderly are cross-sectional. Studies of the system of long-term care relate as general only to a part of the system and are based upon an organisational perspective. The possibilities to use this information for analysing how needs develop from a broad perspective and how they are met are very limited. There is, thus, a need for individual-based longitudinal studies that describe the ageing process from different aspects - the development of health, functional and cognitive ability, social and economic situation, etc. - and that encompass the care system as a whole including all levels and forms of long-term care, geriatric, as well as social, public and private or voluntary, and formal, as well as informal.

Linkage

Standardisation
ICD and DSM

Possibility of linkage among databases
Good options to link to other data set due to use of personal identification numbers-ID.

Data quality

Entry errors if applicable
No major entry errors.

Breaks
No major changes.

Consistency of terminology or coding used during collection
High level of consistency.

Governance

Contact information
Laura Fratiglioni / Aging Research Center (KI)
NEUROTEC, Karolinska institutet
Box 6401
113 82 Stockholm Sweden Phone: +46 8 - 690 58 18
Email: laura.fratiglioni(at)ki.se
Url: http://www.snac.org/eng/aboutus

Timeliness, transparency