Description

For sample adults, DELAYTRANS identifies persons who had a lack of reliable transportation that kept them from medical appointments, meetings, work, or from getting things they needed for daily living in the past 12 months.

Prior to 2022, DELAYTRANS identified sample children and sample adults who had delayed getting medical care during the past 12 months because they "didn't have transportation." This series of questions was not intended to elicit instances when needed medical care was foregone entirely; the Field Representative's Manual for prior years states, "Delayed assumes that medical care has been or will eventually be received."

DELAYTRANS is one of several variables identifying barriers to getting medical care. Please see DELAYHRS for additional information about these variables, including a complete list of nonfinancial barriers to care variables over time.

Comparability

This variable is completely comparable over time for 1997-2018 samples. Users should proceed with caution when making comparisons between 1997-2018 and 2022-later samples due to changes in the questionnaire text, universe, and sample design.

Beginning in 2022, the question is expanded to include medical care that is foregone in addition to medical care that is delayed. It is also expanded to include meetings, work, or things needed for daily living in addition to medical care. The universe is also modified to no longer include sample children.

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

Availability

• 1997-2018, 2022-2023

Weights

• 1997-2018, 2022-2023 : SAMPWEIGHT