Health Interview Survey, 1977

The purpose of the Health Interview Survey is to obtain information about the amount and distribution of illness, its effects in terms of disability and chronic impairments, and the kinds of health services people receive. There are five types of records in this core survey, each in a separate data file. The variables in the Household File (Part 1) in this collection include type of
living quarters, size of family, and geographic region. The Person File (Part 2) variables include sex, age, race, marital status, veteran status,
education, income, occupation, and limits on activity. The Condition
File (Part 3) contains variables on the incidence of illness or injury within
the past year. The Hospital Episode File (Part 4) contains variables on the
incidence of hospitalizations and presence of chronic conditions. The
Doctor Visit File (Part 5) includes variables regarding frequency of doctor
visits, type of doctor seen, and reasons for each visit. A sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth file have been provided. The Disability Supplement File (Part 6) contains variables on the need for help, services, and environment
modifications. The H1 Supplement File (Part 7) includes basic demographic variables, medical information, health variables, doctor visits, medical insurance, work days lost, and activity level variables. The Special Aids Supplement File (Part 8)includes basic demographic variables, special aids onset and amount needed, medical information, health variables, and doctor visits. The Influenza Supplement File (Part 9) includes basic demographic variables, flu, grippe, or fever onset, work and school days lost, hospital visits, length of stay, and cost of care.