Codes and Frequencies
Description
DITUSMEDCOST indicates whether the person used a special diet because conventional medical treatments were too expensive. Please see the Comparability, Universe, and Survey Text Tabs for information on changes in the variable over time.
For information about the full range of variables related to special diets, including definitions, see DITATKINYR. For related variables and more information, please see TABDOM1, or use the search function or IPUMS NHIS drop-down menus.
Comparability
Prior to 2012, sample adults who had used a special diet during the past 12 months and, in 2002, had used a special diet for two weeks or more for health reasons or for a specific health problem or condition, were asked their reasons for using the special diet.
Beginning in 2012, sample adults and sample children were instead asked to select three of sixteen therapies that were most important and only asked the series of questions related to treating health problems, symptoms, or conditions as well as reasons for and importance of use for these top three therapies. Persons who did not include a special diet among their top three CAM therapies did not answer follow up questions for this therapy beginning in 2012 and are reported as responding "no".
Universe
- 2002: Sample adults age 18+ who have used at least one of these special diets for two weeks or more for health reasons during the past 12 months and have used at least one of these special diets for a specific health problem or condition.
- 2007: Sample adults age 18+ who have used a special diet during the past 12 months.
- 2012: Sample adults age 18+ and sample children ages 4-17 who have reported having at least one top CAM therapy and using this therapy to treat a specific health problem or condition.
Availability
- 2002, 2007, 2012
Weights
- 2002, 2007 : SAMPWEIGHT
- 2012 : SUPP4WT
