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SKINPROBYRC
Had skin problems, past year (Condition)
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Codes and Frequencies



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Description

SKINPROBYRC indicates whether the person had a chronic skin problem in the past year. This variable is created with supplemental programming by the IPUMS NHIS staff from the pre-1997 condition records. For general information about IHIS variables (such as SKINPROBYRC) created from the pre-1997 condition records, see the User Note on Condition Records and Condition Variables.

Defining Skin Problem Records and Identifying Persons with a Skin Problem

For all available years, persons who were asked a direct question about having a skin problem and who have a chronic skin problem condition record are given a "Yes" code for SKINPROBYRC. Persons who were asked a direct question about a skin problem but do not have a chronic skin problem record are given a code of "No." Persons who were not asked a direct question about a skin problem, or for whom it is unknown whether they were asked such a question, are given a code of "NIU" (not in universe), regardless of whether they have a chronic skin problem record.

1969, 1976, and 1978 

For 1969, 1976, and 1978, skin problem records were defined as those condition records with any of the following codes in the variables DIAGCODE (1969) or DCICDCOD (1976, 1978) in the original NHIS public use files:

  • "690" ("Seborrheic dermatitis")
  • "691" ("Infantile eczema and related conditions")
  • "6920" through "6929" ("Other eczema and dermatitis")
  • "693" ("Dermatitis herpetiformis")
  • "694" ("Pemphigus")
  • "6950" through "6959" ("Erythematous condition")
  • "6960" through "6969" ("Psoriasis and similar disorders")
  • "6970" through "6979" ("Lichen")
  • "6980" through "6989" ("Pruritus and related conditions")
  • "7080" and "7089" ("Urticaria")

These condition code values come from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Revision 8. Additionally, to be considered "chronic," skin problem condition records must have a code of "1" ("Chronic") in the variable CONDCODE (1969) or the variable CACODE (1976, 1978) in the original NHIS public use files.

1979 to 1996 

For 1979-1996, skin problem records were defined as those condition records with any of the following codes in the variable DCICDCOD in the original NHIS public use files:

  • "690" ("Erythematosquamous dermatosis")
  • "6910" and "6918" ("Atopic dermatitis and related conditions")
  • "6920" through "6929" ("Contact dermatitis and other eczema")
  • "6930" through "6939" ("Dermatitis due to substances taken internally")
  • "6940" through "6949" ("Bullous dermatoses")
  • "6950" through "6959" ("Erythematous conditions")
  • "6960" through "6968" ("Psoriasis and similar disorders")
  • "6970" through "6979" ("Lichen")
  • "6980" through "6989" ("Pruritus and related conditions")
  • "7080" and "7089" ("Urticaria")

These condition code values come from ICD Revision 9. As with earlier years, to be considered "chronic," skin problem condition records must have a code of "1" ("Chronic") in the variable CACODE in the original NHIS public use files.

Weights
For 1969 and 1976, SKINPROBYRC should be weighted with PERWEIGHT.

For 1978 to 1981, SKINPROBYRC should be weighted with CONDWT2.

For 1982 to 1996, SKINPROBYRC should be weighted with CONDWT1.

Related Skin Problem Variables
The nearest equivalent of SKINPROBYRC available after 1996 is SKINOTHYR (Had skin problems other than eczema, acne, or warts, past 12 months). However, researchers should use caution when comparing prevalence estimates derived from these two variables, as both the manner of collecting information about skin problems and the definition of "skin problems" differ greatly between the two. SKINPROBYRC was created by recoding condition records that were generated in response to several different survey questions about health problems underlying disability, sick days, or contacts with health care practitioners. SKINOTHYR, by contrast, is based on a direct question about whether the person had a skin problem.

Comparability

As with all of the person-level condition variables created by IHIS from condition records prior to 1997, the universe for SKINPROBYRC is substantially different for 1978 forward than it is for years prior to 1978. Beginning in 1978, only persons living in 1/6 of households, rather than all persons, were asked a direct question about having skin problem in the past year. There is also a minor universe change between the sets of years 1978-1981 and 1982-1996. These changes require that different weight variables be used depending on which years of data are analyzed. See the "Description" tab for details.

Additionally, there is a change in the way "Yes" responses are coded over time. See the User Note on Condition Records and Condition Variables for details about the composite coding scheme employed by IHIS.

Universe

  • 1969; 1976: All persons.
  • 1978-1981: Persons living in 1/6 of households (who received Condition List 2).
  • 1982-1996: Persons living in 1/6 of households (who received Condition List 1).

Availability

  • 1969, 1976, 1978-1996

Weights