National Health Interview Survey, January 2003. CAPI Manual for NHIS Field Representatives

摘要

The basic purpose of the National Health Interview Survey is to obtain national information about the amount and distribution of illness, its effects in terms of disability and chronic impairments, and the kind of health services people receive. The National Health Interview Survey is part of the National Health Survey, which began in May 1957. Prior to that time, the last nationwide survey of health had been conducted in 1935-36. Despite extensive research on individual diseases in the years 1937-1957, one important element had been missing. We had only piece-meal information from the people themselves on their illness and disability, or the medical care they obtained. Many persons, although sick or injured, never became a 'health statistic' because requirements for reporting illnesses were limited to hospitalized illnesses and certain contagious diseases.