Description

For sample adults who had seen a practitioner for massage during the past 12 months (MASYR) and had told a conventional medical professional about their use of massage (MASLCONVHP), MASLPSYCHO indicates whether they had reported their use of massage to a psychologist or social worker.

In both 2002 and 2007, interviewers asked, "During the past 12 months, did you let any of these conventional medical professionals know about your use of massage?" and handed the respondent a card listing several types of conventional health care practitioners. If the answer was affirmative (i.e., a "Yes" response in MASLCONVP), interviewers asked the follow-up question, "Which ones [did you tell]?" and noted, "You may choose more than one."

In both 2002 and 2007, the list of conventional medical professionals included the following:

• Medical doctor (including specialists) (MASLMD)

• Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant (MASLNURS)

• Psychiatrist (MASLPSYCHI)

• Dentist (including specialists) (MASLDENT)

In 2007, the list included additional categories of conventional medical professionals. One such addition was "psychologist/social worker." The other categories of conventional medical professionals that were specified in 2007 only were:

• Pharmacist (MASLPHARM)

• Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) (MASLDO)

For more information about the full range of variables related to massage, including definitions, see MASYR.

Comparability

MASLPSYCHO is available for 2007 only. In both 2002 and 2007, information was collected on whether use of massage was reported to a psychiatrist. For comparison of results between the two years, researchers may wish to combine the variables relating to psychiatrists and psychologists/social workers; see MASLPSYCHI for discussion.

For discussion of comparability issues affecting MASLPSYCHO and related variables, see MASLCONVHP. Only persons with a positive response in MASLCONVHP were asked the follow-up question for MASLPSYCHO.

Universe

Availability

• 2007

Weights

• 2007 : SAMPWEIGHT