Description

HER1TCONMOST reports the condition for which the person's first herbal supplement was used the most. Please see the Comparability, Universe and Survey Text tabs for more information on changes in the variable over time.

For related variables and more information, please see TABDOM1, or use the search function or IPUMS NHIS drop-down menus.

Comparability

Prior to 2012, in universe persons were asked about a series of specific health problems, symptoms, or conditions they may have treated with different complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies.

Beginning in 2012, persons were instead asked to select three of sixteen therapies that were most important and only asked the series of questions related to treating health problems, symptoms, or conditions about these top three therapies. Persons who did not include acupuncture among their top three CAM therapies did not answer follow up questions for this therapy beginning in 2012 and are reported as responding no. For more detail on how the 2012 version of this variable was constructed, see TABDOM1.

Changes in universe also pose comparability challenges; in 2007, only sample adults were included in the universe. Beginning in 2012, however, sample adults and sample children are included in the universe. Additionally, the list of possible conditions persons could report change over time.

Universe

Availability

• 2007, 2012

Weights

• 2007 : SAMPWEIGHT
• 2012 : SUPP4WT