Description

For sample adults who had "pain, aching, stiffness or swelling in or around a joint" during the past 12 months (JNTYR), JNTYRHIPL indicates whether the left hip joint was an affected joint.

Interviewers handed respondents a card listing sixteen numbered joints and showing a picture of a torso with the joints numbered the same as the answer categories. They asked, "Which joints are affected?," marked all categories indicated by respondents, and entered "N" to indicate "No more."

The Field Representative's Manuals for 1997-2000 directed, "Ask the Sample Adult to report the numbers of the affected joints and then enter those numbers. Continue asking 'Any others?' until you get a 'No' response. Enter N for 'no more' after the last one."

The responses to the question about affected joints were converted into dichotomous variables by the National Center for Health Statistics. In addition to JNTYRHIPL, the other variables in this series are the following:

• JNTYRANKLEL (Joint affected (past year): Left ankle)

• JNTYRANKLER (Joint affected (past year): Right ankle)

• JNTYRELBOWL (Joint affected (past year): Left elbow)

• JNTYRELBOWR (Joint affected (past year): Right elbow)

• JNTYRHANDL (Joint affected (past year): Left fingers/thumb)

• JNTYRHANDR (Joint affected (past year): Right fingers/thumb)

• JNTYRHIPR (Joint affected (past year): Right hip)

• JNTYRKNEEL (Joint affected (past year): Left knee)

• JNTYRKNEER (Joint affected (past year): Right knee)

• JNTYRSHOUL (Joint affected (past year): Left shoulder)

• JNTYRSHOUR (Joint affected (past year): Right shoulder)

• JNTYRTOEL (Joint affected (past year): Left toes)

• JNTYRTOER (Joint affected (past year): Right toes)

• JNTYRWRISTL (Joint affected (past year): Left wrist)

• JNTYRWRISTR (Joint affected (past year): Right wrist)

• JNTYROTHER (Joint affected (past year): Other not listed)

Comparability

This variable is completely comparable over time.

Beginning in 2002, a similar variable, JNTMOHIPL, is available. While JNTMOHIPL also indicates whether sample adults had joint problems affecting the left hip, the reference period for joint pain was the past 30 days, rather than the past 12 months. The NHIS Survey Descriptions for 2003 forward warn that any comparisons of joint symptom data before 2002 with joint symptom data after 2002 "should be undertaken with caution."

Universe

Availability

• 1997-2001

Weights

• 1997-2001 : SAMPWEIGHT