Rheumatism Study (Panel 1985-1987)

Information on condition and treatment of rheumatism patients. Topics:
in the three-wave panel survey similar survey questionnaires were used:
information on manner and extent of doctor consultations; means of
transport used on visit to the doctor, trip to pharmacy and
physiotherapy; information on stationary hospital stays as well as
about operations and successive treatments; personal share in treatment
costs; sick days; number of house visits by doctor; type and number of
therapies received in the last year; judgement on the success of the
therapies; participation in courses on coping with pain; model services
taken advantage of; personal exercise practice; physical measures and
practice of sport and gymnastics; diet due to rheumatism; information
on course, methods and side effects of base therapy; cortison
medications administered; other medication and self-treatment; measures
to cope with pain; orthopedic and ergotheraputic aids used; use of
splints; structural changes in household and at work as well as
personal share of costs; resorting to alternative medicine treatment;
applications for aid and services received from public agencies or
social insurance; regular help from churches, community or government
offices; help from social surroundings; type of health insurance
company; identification as seriously handicapped; degree of disability;
pension payment due to rheumatic disease; move in the last year;
residential status; number of rooms and floor of residence; entrance
suitable for the handicapped; size of circle of friends; extent of
social contacts; membership in the Rheumatism League; other
memberships; occupational changes in the last year and expected
development of occupational future. Form to be filled out:
classification of degree of disability by means of information on
activities one can take care of independently or can no longer be
conducted (scale); self-classification of current pain burden on a
scale; characterization of type and effects of pain; psychological
self-characterization (Affect Balance Scale of Badura, Beck Depression
Inventory STAT - x2). In the first wave the following additional
questions were posed: time of start of rheumatism complaints; immediate
visit to the doctor after start of complaints; treatment in rheumatism
out-patient care and utilization of offerings of the Rheumatism League.
Also encoded was: length of interview.