Table 3 Variable definitions
Variable | Survey question | Subcategories (as used in the analysis) and reference group |
|---|---|---|
Medicine use | During the past two weeks, have you used any medicines (including dietary supplements such as herbal medicines or vitamins) that were prescribed or recommended for you by a doctor? | • None; reference group • Non-prescribed • Prescribed • Both |
During the past two weeks, have you used any medicines or dietary supplement or herbal medicines or vitamins not prescribed or recommended by a doctor? | ||
Employment status | How would you define your current labour status? | • Employed (working for pay or profit); reference group • Retired (in retirement or early retirement or has given up business) • Unemployed or disabled (unemployed; permanently disabled)a • In training or at home (pupil, student, further training, unpaid work experience) |
Highest education | What is the highest education leaving certificate, diploma or education degree you have obtained? Please include any vocation training. | • ISCED ≤ 2 (no formal education or below ISCED 1; primary education; lower secondary education); reference group • ISCED 3-4 (upper secondary education; post-secondary but non-tertiary education) • ISCED 5-6 (first stage of tertiary education; second stage of tertiary education) |
Income quintile | Perhaps you can provide the appropriate range [instead of the household’s total net income per month]. Would you (please look at this card and) tell me which group represents your household’s total net monthly income from all these sources after deductions for income tax, National Insurance etc. Is it … | • First quintile; reference group • Second quintile • Third quintile • Fourth and fifth quintile |
Age | Age of the person at the moment of the interview | • 18–29 years • 30–39 • 40–49 • 50–59 • 60–69 • 70+ |
Gender | Sex | • Male; reference group • Female |
Chronic conditions | Do you have any longstanding illness or [longstanding] health problem? [By longstanding, I mean illnesses or health problems which have lasted, or are expected to last, for 6 months or more.] | • No; reference group • Yes |
Self-assessed health | How is your health in general? Is it … | • Good (very good, good); reference group • Poor (very bad, bad, fair) |