Description

For sample adults who had taken vitamin or mineral supplements during the past 12 months (VITANY) and had told a conventional medical professional about their use of vitamins (VITYLCONVHP), VITLDO indicates whether they had reported their use of vitamin/mineral supplements to a doctor of osteopathy (D.O.).

Data Collection

In 2002, interviewers asked, "During the past 12 months, did you let any of these conventional medical professionals know about your use of high dose or megavitamin therapy?" In 2007, the question was nearly identical but referred to "vitamins" rather than "high dose or megavitamin therapy." In both years, the interviewer then handed the respondent a card listing several types of conventional health care practitioners. If the answer was affirmative (i.e., a "Yes" response in VITYLCONVHP), interviewers asked the follow-up question, "Which ones [did you tell]?" and noted, "You may choose more than one."

Comparability

VITLDO is available for 2007 only. In both 2002 and 2007, information was collected on whether use of high dose/megavitamin therapy or vitamin/mineral supplements was reported to a medical doctor (M.D.). For comparison of results between the two years, researchers may wish to combine the variables relating to medical doctors and osteopaths; see VITYLMD for discussion.

For discussion of comparability issues affecting VITLDO and related variables, see VITYLCONVHP. Only persons with a positive response in VITYLCONVHP were asked the follow-up question for VITLDO.

Universe

Availability

• 2007

Weights

• 2007 : SAMPWEIGHT