Construct | Instrument/Method | Data collection mode | Information obtained for all study participants | Comparable information available from GNHIES98 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Self-reported morbidity | ||||
Presence of any long-standing illness | MEHM [35] | SFQ | yes | no |
Medical history including family history | Self-developed closed-ended questions | CAPI | yes | yes |
(except for family history) | ||||
Lifetime history of selected childhood diseases and vaccinations | Self-developed closed-ended questions; taking copies of immunization records | CAPI | yes | yes |
Information obtained from immunization records | ||||
Medication use | ||||
Current medication use (past 7 days) | On-site medication review and automated barcoding [8] | AmEDa | yes | yes |
Objective health measures | ||||
Body weight and height | Portable electronic scales(SECA, Germany), stadiometer (Holtain, UK); accuracy of measurement: 0.1 kg and 0.1 cm | M/T | yes | yes |
Waist and hip circumference | Flexible, non-stretchable measurement tape (Siber Hegner, Switzerland); accuracy of measurement: 0.5 cm | M/T | yes | yes |
Blood pressure and heart rate | Automated blood pressure device (Datascope Accutor Plus, The Netherlands) | M/T | yes | yes |
(instrument change) | ||||
Thyroid volume | Ultrasound (USD 200 Sirius, ROI Medical Systems, Germany) | M/T | yes | no |
Biochemical measures | Complete blood counta, clinical chemistry, immunology and allergic sensitization immunoassaysb, spot urine dipstickc, special serum and urine analysesd | M/T | yes | yes |
(change in methods for some measures) | ||||
Symptoms and complaints | ||||
Physical symptoms (past 7 days) | SCL-90-R, 12-item somatization scale [36] | SFQ | yes | no |
Joint pain (past 12 months; past 24 hours) | Closed-ended questions adapted from RADAI [37] | SFQ | yes | no |
Pain intensity and interference with activities of daily life (past 4 weeks) | SFQ | yes | yes (SF-36 version 1.0) [40] | |
Sleep duration and sleep disorders | Closed-ended questions adapted from PSQI [41] | SFQ | yes | no |
Urinary incontinence | Self-developed single closed-ended question | SFQ | yes | no |
Mental Health | ||||
Depressive symptoms | SFQ | yes | no | |
(past 2 weeks) | ||||
Chronic stress | SFQ | participants 18–64 years | no | |
(past 3 months) | ||||
Vitality | SFQ | yes | yes (SF-36 version 1.0) [40] | |
Mental distress | MHI-5 [46] | SFQ | yes | yes (SF-36 version 1.0) [40] |
Psychological distress attributed to critical life events | Closed-ended questions adapted from DEAS 2002 [47] | SFQ | yes | no |
Assaults and aggressive behavior (past 12 months and life time history since age 16 years) | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | participants 18–64 years | no |
Subjective health | ||||
Self-rated health status | MEHM [35] | SFQ | yes | SF-36 version 1.0 [40] |
Health-related quality of life | SFQ | yes | SF-36 version 1.0 [40] | |
Gender-specific health issues | ||||
Benign prostate disease | Self-developed closed-ended single question | SFQ | men of all age goups | no |
Women’s health (reproductive history, hysterectomy, contraceptive use, postmenopausal hormone therapy) | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | women of all age groups | no |
Injuries | ||||
Injuries requiring medical treatment (past 12 months) | Self-developed closed-ended single question | SFQ | yes | yes |
History of fractures (since age 50 years, selected locations, associated degree of trauma) | Closed-ended questions adapted from European Osteoporosis Study [48] | SFQ | participants 65 years and older | no |
Falls | ||||
History of falls (past 12 months, past 4 weeks,); fear of falls | Closed-ended questions adapted from Prevention of Falls Network Europe consensus [49] | SFQ | participants 65 years and older | no |
Functional capacities | ||||
Visual and hearing impairment | Closed-ended questions adapted from DEAS 2002 and ECHIM Project [47, 50] | SFQ | yes | no |
Aerobic fitness | Submaximal endurance bicycle ergometer testing based on heart rate and lactic acid measurements [51, 52] | M/T | participants 18–64 years | no |
Isometric hand grip strength | Smedley, S dynamometer | M/T | participants 65 years and older | no |
Mobility | Timed “Up & Go” [55] | M/T | participants 65 years and older | no |
Balance and lower extremity strength | M/T | participants 65 years and older | no | |
Cognitive functioning | M/T | participants 65 years and older | no | |
Disability | ||||
Officially recognized disability | Self-developed closed-ended single question | SFQ | yes | yes |
Long-standing illness interfering with activities of daily life | SFQ | yes | no | |
Physical functional limitations interfering with activities in daily life | SFQ | yes | SF-36 version 1.0 [40] | |
Health-related behavior | ||||
Dietary habits (past 4 weeks) | Self-developed, validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) [16] | SFQ | yes | FFQ (past 12 months; less food items; no portion sizes) |
Smoking history, passive smoking, intention to quit, nicotine dependence | Self-developed closed-ended questions; FTND [62] | SFQ | yes (nicotine dependence restricted to participants 18–64 years) | yes |
(except for FTND and intention to quit) | ||||
Alcohol consumption (frequency and amount) | Closed-ended self-developed questions; AUDIT-C, BASIC [63] | SFQ | yes | yes (except AUDIT, BASIC) |
Physical activity and sports activities | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | yes | partly |
Media use (hours per day on average) | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | yes | no |
Living and social conditions | ||||
Self-perceived social support | 3-item Oslo scale [64] | SFQ | yes | no |
Level and type of support with activities of daily life | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | participants 65 years and older | no |
Caregiving (duration; caregiver burden) | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | yes | no |
Housing conditions (size and type of housing; indoor mold; noise and traffic exposure) | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | yes | yes |
Working conditions (hours of work per week; shift or night work) | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | participants 18–64 years | yes |
Socio-demographic context variables | ||||
Age, year of birth, marital status, household size, current family structure, residence in former GDR as of 1988 | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | yes | yes |
Immigration background | Closed-ended questions adapted from [65] | SFQ | yes | yes |
Education, net household income, professional status and employment history, retirement | SFQ | yes | yes | |
Health care services utilization | ||||
Type of health insurance | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | yes | yes |
Nursing care enrollment or pending application | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | participants 65 years and older | no |
Last time seen a doctor; number of doctor visits, emergency care visits, hospital nights, sick days, sickness leave days (past 12 months) | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | yes | yes |
Participation in cancer screening programs including specific programs (ever, last time participated) | Self-developed closed-ended questions | CAPI | yes | participation in general only (no information on utilization of specific programs) |
Preventive health check-up program (past 2 years) | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | participants 18–64 years | yes |
Preventive (past 12 months) and rehabilitation services (past 3 years) | Self-developed closed-ended questions | SFQ | yes | yes |
Disease-specific preventive services, procedures and diagnostic tests | Self-developed closed-ended questions | CAPI | yes | no |