Codes and Frequencies
Description
For sample adults age 18+ who were ever told they had arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia (ARTHGLUPEV) or, for years prior to 2019, who had any symptoms of pain, aching, or stiffness in or around a joint during the past 30 days (JNTMO), ARTHWORK indicates whether arthritis or joint symptoms now affected whether they worked, the type of work they did, or the amount of work they did. Interviewers introduced the question by noting, "In this next question we are referring to work for pay."
Related Variables
ARTHWORK is part of a series of questions sponsored by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Skin Diseases (NIAMS, NIH) and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP, CDC). According to the 2006 Field Representative's Manual, in 2002 and 2003 these arthritis questions were among the questions addressing 2010 Healthy People initiatives, specifically about a) increasing the employment rate among working-age adults with arthritis and b) increasing the proportion of persons with arthritis who have taken evidence-based arthritis education to help manage their condition. In 2006 the questions were part of the Arthritis Supplement.
Other supplement questions related to arthritis asked about whether respondents had ever taken a class about managing problems related to their symptoms (ARTHCLASS) and about advice they had received from doctors or other health professionals to help their symptoms, such as physical exercise (ARTHEXERCISE) and losing weight (ARTHWEIGHT). In addition, in every year from 2002 forward, sample adults were asked whether they were limited in any way in any of their usual activities because of arthritis or joint symptoms (ARTHLIMIT).
Comparability
Prior to 2019 ARTHWORK is completely comparable over time.
The NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note
Universe
- 2002; 2003; 2006; 2009: Sample adults age 18+ who were ever told they had arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia or who had pain, aching, or stiffness around a joint in the past 30 days.
- 2019: Sample adults age 18+ who were ever told they had arthiritis or related condition (ARTHGLUPEV).
Availability
- 2002-2003, 2006, 2009, 2019
Weights
- 2002-2003, 2006, 2009, 2019 : SAMPWEIGHT
