Description

For sample adults in 2002, 2007, and 2012 who had seen a practitioner for acupuncture during the past 12 months (ACUYR), ACUNO reports how many times the respondent had seen such a practitioner during the past year. In 2012, information was also collected on the number of times sample children between the ages of 4 and 17 had seen such a practitioner during the past year.

Response categories for ACUNO report the number of visits to a practitioner in grouped intervals, ranging from "Only one time" to either "More than 10 times" (2002) or "More than 20 times" (2007). Those who had seen a practitioner for acupuncture were also asked in 2002 whether any of the costs of using acupuncture were covered by insurance (ACUINSURE), and were asked in 2007 what the average out-of-pocket expense for each visit to such a practitioner had been (ACUPAID).

Related Variables 

Comparability

The question wording and universes for ACUNO are identical in 2002 and 2007. However, the response categories differ between the two years. There are 4 substantive response categories in 2002, and 6 such categories in 2007. To facilitate comparison across years without sacrificing detail, IPUMS NHIS uses composite coding for this variable, with the first digit indicating broad ranges of numbers of visits (1 = "Only one time"; 2 = "2 to 10 times"; 3 = "More than 10 times"). The second digit supplies detail present in only some years, such as distinguishing among "More than 10 times" (IHIS code 30), "11 to 15 times" (IHIS code 31), "16 to 20 times" (IHIS code 32), and "More than 20 times" (IHIS code 33). Researchers who wish to maximize comparability between 2002 and 2007 can combine categories beginning with the number 3 into a single "More than 10 times" category.

Universe

Availability

• 2002, 2007, 2012

Weights

• 2002, 2007 : SAMPWEIGHT
• 2012 : SUPP4WT