Health and health care; personal characteristics

Table explanation

Description topics

Oral Health

Brushing teeth, 1 year or older

Respondents aged 12 to 18 years and adults who indicated that they had at least 1 tooth were asked: How often do you usually brush your teeth? The answer options were:
o 1. I do not brush every day
o 2. Once a day
o 3. Twice a day
o 4. Three or more times a day
For children aged 1 to 12, parents were asked:
How often does your child usually brush his/her teeth? Or how often is this done for him/her? The answer options were the same as the answer options for respondents aged 12 or older.

Not every day

Once a day

At least twice a day

Medication, last 14 days

These questions deal with the use of medicine and the use of herbal medicines or vitamins, whether or not prescribed by a physician. The questions are posed to respondents of all ages.

Persons with prescribed medicines

Percentage of persons who in 14 days preceding the inquiry date used medicines prescribed by a physician. The contraceptive pill is not taken into consideration here.

Non-prescribed medicines, since 2025

Percentage persons who answered ‘yes’ on the question ‘Did you use any medicines, herbal medicines or vitamins not prescribed by a doctor during the past two weeks (excluding contraception). Since 2025 ‘Think, for example, about paracetamol, ibuprofen, homeopathic medicines or multivitamins’’ was added to the question.

Non-prescribed medicines (2014-2024)

Percentage of persons who in 14 days preceding the interview used (herbal) medicines or vitamins that were not prescribed by a physician.

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.

Hospital admissions in last 12 months

Hospital admissions are divided into:
- day admissions (without overnight stay)
- admission with at least one overnight stay
Hospital admissions in connection with delivery or birth are excluded.

Day admission

Percentage of persons in the population with at least one day admission in the 12 months preceding the interview. Day admissions are hospital admissions without overnight stay e.g. for planned minor surgery, exploratory/keyhole surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatment.