Codes and Frequencies
Description
For sample persons age 18 and over who did not refuse the normative bowel function questions, this variable indicates if the respondent had lot of trouble with backaches in past 12 months. The Field Representative's manual did not provide a definition of backache and the term was assumed to be respondent defined.
As indicated above, BACHETRUBYR was part of a section on normative bowel functions. Interviewers prefaced this section with the statement, "The next questions are about bowel habits during the past 12 months. Because these questions are personal, I can read the questions to you or if you prefer, you can fill them out yourself." The question for BACHETRUBYR was then introduced to the respondent by handing them a card with a list 18 of health problems to which they respondent would reply "yes" or no as to whether the condition was "a lot of trouble.""A lot of trouble" was defined as the respondent saw or talked to a doctor or other health professional, took medication more than once, or the problem interfered with their life or usual activities.
The section on normative bowel disorders in 1989 survey was part of a supplement on Digestive Disorders, which had three sections. The first section asked about specific conditions such as gallstones, ulcers or colon or bowel conditions (for example, see IRRBOWELYR , ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had "inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel, or constipation severe enough to require medication"). The second asked about abdominal pain (for example, see ABPAIN3XYR had abdominal pain 3 or more times in the past 12 months), and the third section was on normative bowel functions (including BACHETRUBYR).
For a list of variables from the 1989 section on normative bowel functions, see the variable description for ABGASTRUBYR.
Universe
- 1989: Sample persons age 18+ who did not refuse to complete bowel function questions.
Availability
- 1989
Weights
- 1989 : SUPP2WT
