Description

For sample persons under age 18 who have taken a medicine in the past two weeks, MED2W1 indicates the first type of medicine (if any) the child has taken in the previous two weeks. The list of medicines includes: pain relievers, cough medicines, asthma or allergy medicines, medicines for topical steroids, other skin medicines, laxatives or stomach medicines, vitamins or minerals, tranquilizers or sedatives, antibiotics, or other types of medicines. For a complete list of up to eight types of medicine that the child was reported to have taken in the past two weeks, see the following variables, which report the second through eighth types of medicine: MED2W2, MED2W3, MED2W4, MED2W5, MED2W6, MED2W7, and MED2W8. Users interested in specific types of medicine should use all of the variables listed above, as the medication of interest may be reported in a variable other than MED2W1. Alternatively, users could look at the variables specific to each type of medicine listed above. For example, MALL2W reports whether the child has taken asthma or allergy medicines in the past two weeks. Please see MALL2W for a full list of the variables associated with each type of medicine.

Related Variables
Persons are also asked about the main health problem for which the first reported medication was used MED2WPROB1, whether or not the doctor had prescribed the first reported medication MED2WRX1, whether or not the doctor had recommended the use of the first reported medication MED2WDREC1, and the frequency with which the first reported medication was taken in the past three months MED2WFREQ1.

Comparability

This variable has no comparability issues.

Universe

Availability

• 1981

Weights

• 1981 : SAMPWEIGHT