Health and sickliness database

Summary

Strengths: Since 1994, an effort has been made to interview the same people in each round. Furthermore, a new population is added each year. Data can be linked to registers through statistics Denmark. Weaknesses: The method of data collection has changed twice.

Type of data

Data Source
Survey

Type of Study
Crosssection regular

Data gathering method
Face-to-face
Self administered questionnaire

Access to data

Conditions of access

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

Formats available
SAS, SPSS

Coverage

Coverage Years of collection, reference years, and sample sizes
Wave 1: data collected in 1987 with a sample size of 4,752 responses. Wave 2: data collected in 1994 with a sample size of 4,667 responses. Wave 3: data collected in 2000 with a sample size of 16,688 responses. Wave 4: data collected in 2005 with a sample size of 14,566 responses.

First year of collection
1987

Stratification if applicable
National sample

Base used for sampling

Geographical coverage and breakdowns
Covers all Danish regions

Age range
16 and above

Statistical representativeness
Population representative

Coverage of main and cross-cutting topics
The purpose of the study is to monitor the prevalence of health, sickliness and functional limitations among the population and the factors that influence health and sickliness such as life style, and risk behaviour in work and private life. The study covers health and health behaviour (including attitude towards health promotion, food, exercise, alcohol, tobacco, preventing examinations, experienced health and life quality), sickness (including specific diseases, long term illnesses, symptoms and accidents), consequences of illness (including functional defects and physical limitations), social relations (including contact to family and friends, help from others in case of illness, leisure activities and whether they feel alone even though they would like to be with others) and work environment and living conditions (including psycho-social and physical work environment and whether exposed to noise or a bad indoor climate).

Linkage

Standardisation
N.A.

Possibility of linkage among databases
Data can be linked to register data available at Statistics Denmark through an encrypted identification key.

Data quality

Entry errors if applicable
N.A.

Breaks
In 1987, data was collected only by face-to-face interviews, but in 1994, this was supplemented by self-administered questionnaires. In 1994 and 2000, Paper and Pencil Interviewing (PAPI) were used and in 2005, the survey used Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI).

Consistency of terminology or coding used during collection
Some of the basic questions are repeated each year and some changing topics are covered.

Governance

Contact information
Ola Ekholm, National Institute for Public Health
University of Southern Denmark
Øster Farimagsgade 5 A
1353 Copenhagen Denmark Phone: (+45)6550 7777
Email: oek(at)si-folkesundhed.dk
Url: http://susy2.si-folkesundhed.dk/susy.aspx#

Timeliness, transparency
N.A.