Health and health care; personal characteristics, 2014-2021

Health and health care; personal characteristics, 2014-2021

Characteristics persons Margins Periods Functional limitations Persons with a GALI limitation (%) Functional limitations Sleeping problems, 12 years or older (%) Functional limitations Limitations OECD, 12 years or older Persons with at least 1 limitation (%) Functional limitations Limitations OECD, 12 years or older Limitations per person (number) Functional limitations Limitations OECD, 12 years or older Limitations per person with limitation (number) Functional limitations Limitations OECD, 12 years or older Persons with hearing limitation (%) Functional limitations Limitations OECD, 12 years or older Persons with visual limitation (%) Functional limitations Limitations OECD, 12 years or older Persons with mobility limitation (%) Functional limitations Limitations ADL, 55 years or older Persons with at least 1 limitation (%) Functional limitations Limitations ADL, 55 years or older Limitations per person (number) Functional limitations Limitations ADL, 55 years or older Limitations per person with limitation (number) Functional limitations Limitations IADL, 55 years or older Persons with at least 1 limitation (%) Functional limitations Limitations IADL, 55 years or older Limitations per person (number) Functional limitations Limitations IADL, 55 years or older Limitations per person with limitation (number) SF-12 health measure, age 12 or older Norm score physical (number) SF-12 health measure, age 12 or older Separate items Physical Health: less accomplished Yes (%) SF-12 health measure, age 12 or older Separate items Physical Health: less accomplished No (%) SF-12 health measure, age 12 or older Separate items Physical Health: limited work Yes (%) SF-12 health measure, age 12 or older Separate items Physical Health: limited work No (%)
Total Value 2014 25.7 . 12.7 0.2 1.9 3.0 3.0 9.8 14.7 0.4 3.0 22.2 0.5 2.1 . . . . .
Total Value 2015 27.0 . 12.8 0.2 1.9 3.3 3.7 9.3 14.2 0.4 2.7 21.9 0.4 2.0 . . . . .
Total Value 2016 27.2 . 12.3 0.2 2.0 3.1 3.2 9.4 13.1 0.4 2.8 21.5 0.4 2.0 . . . . .
Total Value 2017 29.2 19.8 11.8 0.2 2.0 3.1 3.0 8.8 13.0 0.3 2.7 20.6 0.4 2.0 . . . . .
Total Value 2018 29.1 21.9 12.1 0.2 1.9 2.8 2.8 9.6 12.2 0.3 2.7 20.8 0.4 2.0 . . . . .
Total Value 2019 29.2 18.4 11.9 0.2 1.9 3.1 3.1 8.7 12.2 0.3 2.7 21.4 0.4 1.9 . . . . .
Total Value 2020 28.3 21.3 11.4 0.2 1.9 2.9 3.1 8.3 11.5 0.3 2.7 20.6 0.4 2.0 50.2 17.9 82.1 17.1 82.9
Total Value 2021 28.4 21.8 10.8 0.2 1.9 2.8 3.4 7.3 10.1 0.2 2.2 17.6 0.3 1.9 50.1 19.8 80.2 19.3 80.7
Total Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2014 24.8 . 12.0 0.2 1.9 2.6 2.7 9.2 13.4 0.4 2.7 20.6 0.4 2.0 . . . . .
Total Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2015 26.1 . 11.9 0.2 1.8 2.8 3.2 8.5 12.9 0.3 2.5 20.4 0.4 1.9 . . . . .
Total Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2016 26.3 . 11.6 0.2 1.9 2.7 2.8 8.8 11.9 0.3 2.5 19.9 0.4 1.9 . . . . .
Total Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2017 28.3 18.9 11.1 0.2 1.9 2.7 2.6 8.2 11.8 0.3 2.4 19.2 0.4 1.9 . . . . .
Total Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2018 28.2 21.0 11.4 0.2 1.9 2.5 2.5 8.9 11.1 0.3 2.5 19.4 0.4 1.9 . . . . .
Total Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2019 28.3 17.6 11.2 0.2 1.8 2.7 2.7 8.1 11.0 0.3 2.5 20.0 0.4 1.8 . . . . .
Total Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2020 27.3 20.4 10.7 0.2 1.8 2.5 2.7 7.7 10.4 0.3 2.5 19.1 0.4 1.9 50.0 17.1 81.2 16.3 82.0
Total Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2021 27.3 20.8 10.1 0.2 1.8 2.4 3.0 6.7 8.9 0.2 2.0 16.2 0.3 1.8 49.9 18.8 79.2 18.3 79.7
Total Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2014 26.6 . 13.5 0.3 2.0 3.4 3.4 10.5 16.0 0.5 3.2 23.7 0.5 2.2 . . . . .
Total Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2015 27.9 . 13.7 0.3 2.0 3.7 4.2 10.0 15.5 0.4 3.0 23.4 0.5 2.1 . . . . .
Total Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2016 28.2 . 13.0 0.3 2.0 3.5 3.6 10.1 14.4 0.4 3.0 23.0 0.5 2.1 . . . . .
Total Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2017 30.1 20.6 12.4 0.2 2.1 3.5 3.3 9.4 14.2 0.4 2.9 22.1 0.5 2.1 . . . . .
Total Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2018 30.0 22.8 12.8 0.3 2.0 3.1 3.1 10.2 13.3 0.4 2.9 22.2 0.5 2.1 . . . . .
Total Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2019 30.1 19.3 12.6 0.2 2.0 3.5 3.4 9.3 13.3 0.4 3.0 22.8 0.4 2.0 . . . . .
Total Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2020 29.2 22.2 12.1 0.2 2.0 3.3 3.5 8.9 12.7 0.4 3.0 22.1 0.5 2.2 50.4 18.8 82.9 18.0 83.7
Total Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2021 29.4 22.9 11.6 0.2 2.0 3.3 3.9 8.0 11.3 0.3 2.4 19.2 0.4 2.1 50.3 20.8 81.2 20.3 81.7
Sex: Male Value 2014 22.7 . 9.2 0.2 2.0 3.1 2.5 6.3 11.5 0.4 3.1 16.9 0.4 2.1 . . . . .
Sex: Male Value 2015 23.1 . 9.3 0.2 1.8 3.4 2.8 5.2 10.7 0.3 2.5 16.9 0.3 1.8 . . . . .
Sex: Male Value 2016 23.8 . 9.4 0.2 1.9 3.0 2.7 6.0 10.3 0.3 2.5 17.1 0.3 1.9 . . . . .
Sex: Male Value 2017 25.8 15.2 8.5 0.2 1.9 3.1 2.5 5.4 8.7 0.2 2.6 15.0 0.3 2.1 . . . . .
Sex: Male Value 2018 25.0 16.3 9.0 0.2 1.9 2.6 2.0 6.4 9.0 0.3 2.8 15.6 0.3 2.0 . . . . .
Sex: Male Value 2019 26.3 14.0 8.4 0.2 1.9 3.1 2.2 5.3 8.3 0.2 2.7 15.2 0.3 1.8 . . . . .
Sex: Male Value 2020 24.7 16.4 9.2 0.2 1.9 3.0 2.7 5.9 9.9 0.3 2.7 17.1 0.3 2.0 51.0 15.6 84.4 14.8 85.2
Sex: Male Value 2021 25.3 17.1 8.5 0.2 1.9 3.2 3.0 4.9 7.9 0.2 2.2 12.6 0.3 2.1 51.1 16.7 83.3 15.8 84.2
Sex: Male Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2014 21.5 . 8.3 0.2 1.9 2.6 2.0 5.6 9.8 0.3 2.7 14.9 0.3 1.9 . . . . .
Sex: Male Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2015 21.9 . 8.2 0.1 1.7 2.7 2.2 4.4 9.1 0.2 2.1 14.9 0.3 1.7 . . . . .
Sex: Male Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2016 22.6 . 8.5 0.2 1.8 2.5 2.2 5.3 8.7 0.2 2.2 15.1 0.3 1.7 . . . . .
Sex: Male Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2017 24.5 14.1 7.7 0.1 1.8 2.6 2.0 4.7 7.3 0.2 2.2 13.2 0.3 1.9 . . . . .
Sex: Male Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2018 23.8 15.2 8.1 0.2 1.8 2.2 1.6 5.6 7.6 0.2 2.4 13.8 0.3 1.8 . . . . .
Sex: Male Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2019 25.0 13.0 7.6 0.1 1.7 2.6 1.8 4.6 6.9 0.2 2.3 13.4 0.2 1.6 . . . . .
Sex: Male Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2020 23.4 15.2 8.3 0.2 1.8 2.5 2.2 5.2 8.4 0.2 2.3 15.1 0.3 1.8 50.7 14.4 83.3 13.6 84.1
Sex: Male Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2021 23.9 15.8 7.6 0.1 1.7 2.7 2.4 4.2 6.6 0.1 1.9 11.0 0.2 1.8 50.8 15.5 81.9 14.6 82.9
Sex: Male Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2014 23.9 . 10.1 0.2 2.2 3.6 3.0 7.1 13.2 0.4 3.5 18.9 0.4 2.3 . . . . .
Sex: Male Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2015 24.4 . 10.3 0.2 2.0 4.1 3.4 6.0 12.4 0.3 2.8 18.9 0.4 2.0 . . . . .
Sex: Male Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2016 25.1 . 10.3 0.2 2.1 3.6 3.2 6.8 12.0 0.3 2.9 19.1 0.4 2.1 . . . . .
Sex: Male Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2017 27.1 16.3 9.3 0.2 2.1 3.6 3.0 6.1 10.2 0.3 3.0 16.8 0.4 2.2 . . . . .
Sex: Male Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2018 26.2 17.4 9.8 0.2 2.0 3.1 2.4 7.1 10.5 0.3 3.2 17.4 0.4 2.2 . . . . .
Sex: Male Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2019 27.5 15.1 9.2 0.2 2.0 3.6 2.7 6.0 9.6 0.3 3.0 17.0 0.3 2.0 . . . . .
Sex: Male Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2020 26.0 17.6 10.1 0.2 2.0 3.6 3.3 6.7 11.5 0.3 3.1 19.1 0.4 2.2 51.3 16.7 85.6 15.9 86.4
Sex: Male Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2021 26.8 18.5 9.5 0.2 2.1 3.9 3.6 5.7 9.5 0.2 2.6 14.5 0.3 2.3 51.4 18.1 84.5 17.1 85.4
Sex: Female Value 2014 28.7 . 16.2 0.3 1.9 2.9 3.6 13.3 17.6 0.5 2.9 27.0 0.6 2.1 . . . . .
Sex: Female Value 2015 30.8 . 16.3 0.3 2.0 3.2 4.6 13.3 17.4 0.5 2.9 26.5 0.6 2.1 . . . . .
Sex: Female Value 2016 30.6 . 15.2 0.3 2.0 3.2 3.8 12.8 15.7 0.5 2.9 25.4 0.5 2.0 . . . . .
Sex: Female Value 2017 32.5 24.3 15.0 0.3 2.0 3.1 3.4 12.2 17.0 0.5 2.7 25.8 0.5 2.0 . . . . .
Sex: Female Value 2018 33.1 27.4 15.2 0.3 2.0 3.0 3.6 12.7 15.1 0.4 2.7 25.6 0.5 2.1 . . . . .
Sex: Female Value 2019 32.1 22.8 15.3 0.3 1.9 3.1 3.9 12.1 15.8 0.4 2.8 27.2 0.5 2.0 . . . . .
Sex: Female Value 2020 31.8 26.1 13.5 0.3 1.9 2.7 3.4 10.6 13.0 0.4 2.7 23.8 0.5 2.0 49.4 20.2 79.8 19.5 80.5
Sex: Female Value 2021 31.4 26.4 13.1 0.2 1.8 2.4 3.9 9.7 12.1 0.3 2.2 22.3 0.4 1.8 49.1 22.8 77.2 22.7 77.3
Sex: Female Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2014 27.4 . 15.1 0.3 1.8 2.4 3.0 12.2 15.6 0.4 2.6 24.7 0.5 1.9 . . . . .
Sex: Female Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2015 29.4 . 14.9 0.3 1.9 2.5 3.8 12.1 15.5 0.4 2.6 24.2 0.5 2.0 . . . . .
Sex: Female Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2016 29.2 . 14.1 0.3 1.9 2.6 3.2 11.7 13.8 0.4 2.6 23.2 0.5 1.9 . . . . .
Sex: Female Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2017 31.2 23.0 13.9 0.3 1.9 2.6 2.9 11.2 15.1 0.4 2.4 23.7 0.5 1.9 . . . . .
Sex: Female Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2018 31.8 26.1 14.1 0.3 1.9 2.5 3.0 11.7 13.4 0.3 2.4 23.5 0.5 1.9 . . . . .
Sex: Female Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2019 30.8 21.5 14.2 0.3 1.9 2.6 3.3 11.1 14.0 0.4 2.5 25.0 0.5 1.8 . . . . .
Sex: Female Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2020 30.4 24.7 12.5 0.2 1.8 2.2 2.8 9.6 11.3 0.3 2.4 21.7 0.4 1.9 49.1 19.0 78.5 18.2 79.3
Sex: Female Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2021 29.8 24.9 11.9 0.2 1.7 1.9 3.3 8.7 10.3 0.2 1.9 20.0 0.4 1.7 48.7 21.4 75.7 21.3 75.8
Sex: Female Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2014 30.0 . 17.3 0.3 1.9 3.4 4.1 14.3 19.5 0.6 3.2 29.2 0.6 2.2 . . . . .
Sex: Female Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2015 32.1 . 17.7 0.4 2.1 3.8 5.3 14.6 19.4 0.6 3.2 28.7 0.6 2.2 . . . . .
Sex: Female Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2016 31.9 . 16.3 0.3 2.1 3.7 4.3 13.8 17.5 0.5 3.2 27.7 0.6 2.2 . . . . .
Sex: Female Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2017 33.8 25.6 16.0 0.3 2.1 3.6 4.0 13.2 18.8 0.5 3.0 27.9 0.6 2.2 . . . . .
Sex: Female Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2018 34.4 28.7 16.3 0.3 2.1 3.4 4.1 13.7 16.9 0.5 2.9 27.7 0.6 2.2 . . . . .
Sex: Female Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2019 33.4 24.0 16.3 0.3 2.0 3.6 4.5 13.1 17.5 0.5 3.1 29.3 0.6 2.1 . . . . .
Sex: Female Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2020 33.2 27.5 14.6 0.3 2.0 3.2 4.0 11.6 14.7 0.4 3.1 26.0 0.5 2.2 49.8 21.5 81.0 20.7 81.8
Sex: Female Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2021 32.9 28.0 14.3 0.3 2.0 3.0 4.7 10.8 14.1 0.3 2.5 24.7 0.5 2.0 49.5 24.3 78.6 24.2 78.7
Age: 0 to 3 years Value 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Value 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Value 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Value 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Value 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Value 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Value 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Value 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Lower bound 95% confidence interval 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2017 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2018 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 0 to 3 years Upper bound 95% confidence interval 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 4 to 11 years Value 2014 5.7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 4 to 11 years Value 2015 7.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 4 to 11 years Value 2016 7.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Age: 4 to 11 years Value 2017 9.0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.


This table contains data on the perceived state of health and on contacts with providers of medical care of the Dutch population in private households. These data can be grouped by several personal characteristics.

Data available for 2014-2021

Status of the data: final.

Changes as of July 31, 2023:
None, the table has been discontinued.

When will new data be published?
Not applicable. This table has been replaced, see paragraph 3 for a link to the new table.

Description topics

Functional limitations
Functional limitations
Functional limitations (physical) are observed by means of 3 groups of questions:
a. The OECD indicator for persons in the age category of 12 years or older.
b. The ADL (Activities of Daily Living) indicator for persons in the age category of 55 years or older.
c. Temporary activity limitations and bed-days for persons of all ages.
Persons with a GALI limitation
Percentage of persons that for at least the past 6 months are limited because of a health problem in activities people/children usually do. This internationally used and adjusted indicator for health limitations is called the GALI, which stands for Global Activity Limitation Indicator. This indicator is calculated for all persons 4 years and older.
In 2014, this indicator was calculated by use of 2 questions, in 2015 both questions are combined in 1 question. This had no effect on the outcome.
Sleeping problems, 12 years or older
Percentage of persons aged 12 years or older that answered ‘somewhat’, ‘much’, ‘very much’ to the question: ‘How much were you bothered by sleeping problems in the last 2 weeks? Think about trouble falling asleep, trouble sleeping through the night, waking up too early.’.
Limitations OECD, 12 years or older
The OECD indicator (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) in this table is based on 7 questions on abilities that people normally can perform, if necessary with glasses or a hearing aid. It does not deal with temporary problems.
1. Can you follow a conversation in a group of three or more persons? (with hearing aid, if needed)
2. Can you have a conversation with one other person? (with hearing aid, if needed)
3. Can you read the small print in the newspaper? (with glasses or contact lenses, if needed)
4. Can you recognise somebody's face at a distance of 4 metres? (with glasses or contact lenses, if needed)
5. Can you carry an object of 5 kilogrammes, for instance a shopping bag, over a distance of 10 metres?
6. Can you bend down from an upright position and pick up something from the floor?
7. Can you walk 400 metres without stopping? (with stick, if needed)
Answer categories to these questions are: 'without difficulty', 'with some difficulty', 'with a lot of difficulty', 'impossible'. The indicator scores 'yes' if the answer to at least 1 of the 7 questions is: 'with a lot of difficulty' or 'impossible'. The respondents are persons in the age category 12 years or older.
Persons with at least 1 limitation
Percentage of persons with at least 1 OECD limitation. A respondent has a limitation if he or she answers ꞌwith a lot of difficultyꞌ or ꞌimpossibeꞌ to at least 1 of the 7 OECD questions.

Limitations per person
The average number of OECD limitations per person in the population of 12 years or older, measured by the OECD indicator.
Limitations per person with limitation
The average number of OECD limitations per person of 12 years or older with at least 1 limitation, measured by the OECD indicator.
Persons with hearing limitation
Percentage of persons of 12 years or older who answered ꞌyes, with a lot of difficultyꞌ or ꞌno, impossibleꞌ to at least 1 of the 2 questions on hearing (according to the OECD indicator).

Persons with visual limitation
Percentage of persons of 12 years or older who answered ꞌyes, with a lot of difficultyꞌ or ꞌno, impossibleꞌ to at least 1 of the 2 questions on eyesight (according to the OECD indicator).
Persons with mobility limitation
Percentage of persons of 12 years or older who answered ꞌyes, with a lot of difficultyꞌ or ꞌno, impossibleꞌ to at least 1 of the 3 questions on mobility limitation (according to the OECD indicator).
Limitations ADL, 55 years or older
The ADL indicator (Activities of Daily Living) is based upon questions on the following 11 activities:
1. Sitting down in and rising from a chair
2. Getting into and out of bed
3. Walk up and down stairs
4. Eating and drinking
5. Dressing and undressing
6. Washing face and hands
7. Washing whole body
8. Utilizing toilet
9. Moving to another room on the same floor
10. Leaving and entering the house
11. Moving outdoors
The 4 possible answers to these questions are: 'without difficulty', 'with some difficulty', 'with a lot of difficulty’, 'only with the help of others'. The first 3 questions have a fifth answer: 'not even with the help of others'. The indicator scores 'yes' if at least one of the answers to the above 10 questions is: 'with a lot of difficulty' or 'only with the help of others'. The questions were put to persons aged 55 years or older.
Persons with at least 1 limitation
Percentage of persons of 55 years or older with at least 1 ADL limitation. A respondent is considered to have a limitation if he or she answers at least one of the 11 questions with 'impossible', 'with great difficulty' or 'not even with the help of others.
Limitations per person
The average number of ADL limitations per person aged 55 years or older, measured with the aid of the ADL indicator.
Limitations per person with limitation
The average number of ADL limitations per person of 55 years or older with at least 1 limitation, measured with the aid of the ADL indicator.
Limitations IADL, 55 years or older
IADL (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) inquires after domestic activities that may cause executional problems as a consequence of health problems. The IADL indicator is based upon questions on the following 7 performances:
1. Preparing meals
2. Telephoning
3. Shopping
4. Taking the right medicines in time
5. Light domestic work
6. Heavy domestic work
7. Keeping money matters and daily financial records
The 5 answer categories to these questions are: 'without difficulty'; 'with some difficulty'; 'with a lot of difficulty’; 'unable to do so'; 'not applicable / I never did or had to do this'. These questions are posed to persons of 55 years or older.
Persons with at least 1 limitation
Percentage of persons of 55 years or older with at least 1 IADL limitation. A respondent is considered to have a limitation if he or she answers at least one of the 7 questions with 'impossible' or 'with great difficulty.
Limitations per person
The average number of IADL limitations per person of 55 years or older, measured with the aid of the IADL indicator.
Limitations per person with limitation
The average number of IADL limitations per person of 55 years or older with at least 1 limitation, measured with the aid of the IADL indicator.
SF-12 health measure, age 12 or older
The 'Short Format 12' or SF-12 questionnaire is a selection of 12 questions from the SF-36 (Ware et al., 1995 *). The SF-12 is a widely used international standard of a generic health measure. The SF-12 measures eight health aspects, namely physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health problems, physical pain, general health, vitality (energy / fatigue), social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems and mental health. Based on the 12 questions, two partial scales can be calculated; a summary measure for physical health (norm score physical) and a summary measure for psychological health (norm score psychological).
These norm scores are calculated for people aged 12 or older.
*Ware J.E., Kosinski M., Keller S.D. SF-12: How to score the SF-12 Physical and Mental Health Summary Scales. Boston, MA: The Health Institute, New England Medical Center, Second Edition, 1995.
Norm score physical
Standard score physical is determined for persons 12 years of age or older. The standard score physical is a summary physical health measure, which is calculated by means of the answers to the SF-12 questionnaire. The American population was used as the reference group in the development of the norm scores. In 1995, the physical health score for the American population was exactly 50. Mean values below 50 indicate less good physical health than in that standard population (American population 1995) and values above 50 indicate better health. For the Dutch population, the average of the physical norm score is slightly higher than 50.
Separate items
Physical Health: less accomplished
The following question was asked to respondents aged 12 or older: When you think about your work or other daily activities, has your physical health helped you achieve less than you would like?
1.Yes
2. No.
Yes
The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘yes’ to the question ‘When you think about your work or other daily activities, have you accomplished less than you would like because of your physical health?’
No
The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘no’ to the question ‘When you think about your work or other daily activities, have you accomplished less than you would like because of your physical health?’
Physical Health: limited work
The following question was asked to respondents aged 12 or older:
When thinking about your work or other daily activities, were you limited by your physical health in the type of work or activities?
1.Yes
2. No.
Yes
The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘yes’ to the question ‘When thinking about your work or other daily activities, were you limited by your physical health in the type of work or activities?’
No
The percentage of people aged 12 or older who answered ‘no’ to the question ‘When thinking about your work or other daily activities, were you limited by your physical health in the type of work or activities?’