Description

For sample adults who believe that good eating habits can reduce chances of developing major diseases (or whose beliefs on this were unknown) (EHDEFFECT), EHDANY indicates if the respondent listed any major diseases in response to the question "Which major diseases do you think may be related to what people eat and drink?".

Interviewers were instructed to mark all diseases mentioned by the respondent in their corresponding category, but not instructed to provide a list of these disease categories to respondents. Respondents could list more than one major disease.

EHDANY is part of a series of variables initiated in 1987 dealing with food, food knowledge, and cancer. For related variables, please use the IPUMS NHIS search function and drop-down menus or see DIETCHANGEV.

Comparability

The available response categories vary across survey years; ulcers/other digestive problems were included in the 1992 supplement. Please refer to the Survey Text Tab for more information. Otherwise, there are no comparability issues.

Changes in survey design (e.g., quarters in which the supplement was collected) may affect raw frequencies, but do not affect comparability of the variable. As always, data users should use the prescribed IHIS weights.

Universe

Availability

• 1987, 1992

Weights

• 1987, 1992 : SAMPWEIGHT