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CLIMBACK
Activity limitation from: Back/neck problem
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Codes and Frequencies



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Description

For persons age 18+ who have at least one activity limitation (LANY), CLIMBACK reports whether the person identified, from an interviewer-provided flashcard listing possible causes of activity limitations, either a back or neck problem as a cause of any activity limitation.

Data Collection

CLIMBACK is one of a set of variables in the Health Status and Limitation of Activities section of the NHIS Family Core. The question, "What conditions or health problems cause [person's] limitations?," (with "back or neck problems" as a possible answer) comes only if there is at least one affirmative answer in a series of preceding questions that vary according to the age of the subject.

 

These questions, and the necessary answers, are:

"Because of a physical, mental, or emotional problem, [does] [person] need the help of any other person with personal care needs, such as eating, bathing, dressing, or getting around inside this home?" (LADL)
"[Does] [person] need the help of other persons with:"
"Bathing or showering?" (LABATH)
"Dressing?" (LADRESS)
"Eating?" (LAEAT)
"Getting in or out of the bed?" (LABED)
"Using the toilet, including getting to the toilet?" (LATOILT)
Getting around inside the home?" (LAHOME)
"Because of a physical, mental, or emotional problem, [does] [person] need the help of other persons in handling routine needs, such as everyday household chores, doing necessary business, shopping, or getting around for other purposes?"(LAIADL)
"Does a physical, mental, or emotional problem now keep [person] from working at a job or business?" (LANOWORK)
"[Is] [person] limited in the kind or amount of work [he or she] can do because of a physical, mental, or emotional problem?" (LAMTWRK)
"Because of a health problem, [does] [person] have difficulty walking without the use of special equipment?" (LAWALK)
"[Is] [person] limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because [he or she] experience[s] periods of confusion?" (LAMEMRY)
"[Is] [person] limited in any [other] way in any activities because of physical, mental or emotional problems?" (LAOTHER)

Other Possible Causes of Activity Limitations 

Other possible causes of activity limitations listed on the flashcard provided to respondents included:

  • Hypertension/high blood pressure (CLIMHYPER)
  • Other developmental problem (e.g., cerebral palsy) (CLIMOTHDEV)
  • Depression/anxiety/emotional problem (CLIMDEPRES)

Other possible causes of activity limitations for persons age 18+, not listed on the flashcard provided to respondents, but based on "other" responses provided by respondents to the question, "What conditions or health problems cause [person's] limitations?," include:

  • Alcohol or drug problem (CLIMALC)
  • First unclassified problem for adults (CLIMANEC1)
  • Second unclassified problem for adults (CLIMANEC2)

Definitions 

The following definitions provide information about various concepts used in the sequence of questions identified above:

"Limited": According to the Field Representative's Manuals for 1997 forward, "limited" refers to a person's ability to "only partially perform" a specific activity, perform that activity "only part of the time," or not perform that activity at all. Moreover, interviewers were instructed not to define this term to respondents. If asked for a definition, interviewers were to emphasize that the survey is interested in whether the respondent believes that the person is limited in the specific activity.
"Health Problem": According to the Field Representative's Manuals for 1997 forward, a "health problem" is respondent defined. The 2001 forward Manuals go on to state that, generally speaking, "it is any condition, physical, mental, or emotional, which causes limitation in activity." Moreover, the Manuals say that it is not important for the respondent to differentiate between a "condition" and a "health problem."
"Condition": According to the Field Representative's Manuals for 1997 forward, the presence of a condition is determined by the respondent's perception of a health problem of any kind. The 2001 forward Manuals go on to add that a condition is "a departure from physical, mental or emotional well-being," and that such departures "are specific health problems such as missing an extremity or organ, the name of a disease, a symptom, the result of an accident or some other type of impairment. Also included are vague disorders and health problems not always thought of as 'illnesses,' such as alcoholism, drug-related problems, senility, depression, [or] anxiety."
"Problem": The Field Representative's Manuals for 1997 forward defined a problem as the respondent's perception "of a chronic, perhaps permanent, departure from physical, mental or emotional well being."
"In any way": The 1997-2000 Field Representative's Manuals define the expression "in any way" (such as in the question "[Is] [person] limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because [he or she] experience[s] periods of confusion?" (LAMEMRY)) as referring to "activities that are normal for most people of that age."
"Help from Another Person": According to the Field Representative's Manuals for 1997 forward, help from another person "is considered to be hands on assistance with performing an activity. An 'other person' may be a friend, relative, paid helper, volunteer from an agency or organization or anyone else who helps the family member in doing the activities mentioned. He or she may be a household member or a non-household member."
"Special Equipment": According to the Field Representative's Manuals for 1997 forward, special equipment includes "any device, tool, utensil, instrument, implement, etc. used as an aid in performing an activity because of a physical, mental or emotional problem."

Comparability

For 2002 forward, the variable is completely comparable.

For 1997-2001, a small number of cases were coded as "no condition at all" (IPUMS NHIS code 6) for the cause of activity limitation. If researchers are interested in only persons (age 18+) with at least one condition causing an activity limitation, then the response of "no condition at all" can be recoded as "not in universe" (IHIS code 0). Using this recode, the variable is completely comparable for 1997 forward.

Universe

  • 1997-2013; 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018: Persons age 18+ who have at least 1 limitation.

Availability

  • 1997-2018

Weights