Description

FOKUSRELREC indicates whether the person had seen a traditional healer because it was recommended by family, friends, or co-workers.

For information about the full range of variables related to folk medicine, including definitions, see FOKYR. For information on how this variable is constructed in 2012-forward samples, please see TABDOM1.

Comparability

Prior to 2012, sample adults who had seen a practitioner for folk medicine during the past 12 months and, in 2002, had used folk medicine for a specific health problem or condition were asked their reasons for using folk medicine.

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 the importance of using these top three therapies. Persons who did not include folk medicine among their top three CAM therapies did not answer follow up questions for this therapy beginning in 2012 and are reported as responding no.

Additionally, beginning in 2012, persons were asked separately if family members, friends, or co-workers recommended use of the therapy whereas in previous years these persons were all asked about in a single variable. The harmonized IPUMS NHIS variables FOKUSRELREC, USRELREC1, USRELREC2, and USRELREC3 include family members, friends, AND co-workers to improve comparability.

Universe

Availability

• 2007, 2012

Weights

• 2007 : SAMPWEIGHT
• 2012 : SUPP4WT