Health and health care; personal characteristics

Table explanation

Description topics

Self-perceived health: good/very good

Percentage of persons who answered ꞌgoodꞌ or ꞌvery goodꞌ to the question: ꞌHow do you assess your general state of health?ꞌ / ꞌHow does your child assess his, her general state of health?ꞌ. Parents or caretakers answer this question on behalf of children under the age of 12 years.

Anxiety, 12 years or older

Anxious period, ever had

The percentage of people aged 12 years or older who answered ‘yes’ to the question, “Have you ever had a period when you were very anxious or worried, for at least 2 weeks in a row?”

Anxious period, in the last 12 months

The percentage of people aged 12 years or older who answered 'yes' to the question 'Have you ever had a period when you were very anxious or worried, for at least 2 weeks in a row?' and 'yes' to the follow-up question 'Have you had this in the past 12 months?'.

Chronic disorders

All respondents are asked: ꞌDo you /Does your child have one or more chronic disorders?ꞌ Chronic means (in anticipation) 6 months or longer. Next, 23 disorders and a remainder category 'other disorders' are presented and persons are asked if they had this disorder during the last 12 months. Persons are asked after 3 of these disorders if they ever suffered from it. Besides (more elaborately) is asked after diabetes. Most questions on specific chronic disorders are being asked to persons of all ages. Questions on disorders that do not occur amongst youngsters are posed to persons of 12 years or older.

1 or more chronic disorders

Percentage of persons who answered ꞌyesꞌ to the question: ꞌDo you / Does your child suffer from one or more chronic illnesses or disorders?ꞌ Chronic is (in anticipation) 6 months or longer.

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.
Besides, a general question about the functional limitations (GALI-indicator) is asked.

GALI limitation, 4 years or older

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.

Medical contacts

Persons are asked if they had contact with their GP, specialist, dentist, dental hygienist, orthodontist, physiotherapist, exercise therapist, psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist, and if he or she is treated by alternative healer. Also, if there were hospital admissions or day care admissions. For children up to 12 years old, these questions are answered by the parent/guardian. Most questions after medical contacts are asked to persons of all ages. Contacts that do not often occur in the case of children are posed from an older age.

Contact with GP

From 2021, the introductory text for the question about GP contacts has been changed to: Now something about contacts with the GP. This includes visits to the GP practice, home visits, telephone consultations, video calling, contacts via email or other e-consultations. Contacts with a replacement GP or with the GP post must also be included. Contacts with the practice assistant and the practice nurse should not be included.
Until 2021, the introductory text was 'Contacts with the GP include visits to the GP practice, home visits and telephone consultations. Contacts with a replacement GP or with the GP post also count. Contacts with the practice assistant and the practice nurse do not count.'
Contacts in the 12 months prior to the survey date are asked in the questionnaire. The questions are asked to respondents of all ages.

Persons with at least 1 contact

Percentage of persons in the population who contacted a GP at least once in the 12 months preceding the interview.