European Commission - Public Health: healthindicators.org

Self-perceived health

Definition of indicator

Self perceived health is a subjective assessment that the people make about one’s own health state, more commonly called subjective health or self-perceived health. Subjective health is a global measurement including several health dimensions (physical, social and emotional). It is influenced by the presence of symptoms or specific complaints and by the diagnosis made by a physician of a possible disease.

The reference is to health in general rather than the present state of health, as the question is not intended to measure temporary health problems. It omits any reference to age and it is not time limited.

Calculation (numerator, denominator)

Proportion of persons who assess their own health to be good to very good, measured by means of health interview survey using representative population sample, using the (WHO recommended) question, EHIS question HS.1:

Hs.1: How is your health in general? Is it… very good / good / fair / bad / very bad?

Additional underlying concepts

The analysis will be limited to the age group 15+; it is the usual age category proposed in the framework of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS).

Relevant dimensions (subgroups)

Country, year, gender, age group, SES, region.

Preferred data sources

1) EHIS (question HS.1)

2) currently: EU-SILC

3) currently, alternative: National HIS

Rationale

Subjective health measurement is contributing to the evaluation the health problems, the burden of diseases and health needs at the population level. It is included in one of the WHO health targets, it is focusing on positive aspects of health. The validity of this measurement has been widely used and it is best investigated in the framework of the population surveys.

Perceived health status is not a substitute for more objective indicators but rather complements these measures. Studies have shown perceived health to be a good predictor of subsequent mortality.

Data availability, quality and periodicity

- Availability: Eurostat, WHO-HFA and OECD; regularly updated based on national health survey data. There is still a lack of standardisation in the measurement methods of self perceived health across European countries. The question in WHO, EHIS and EU-SILC is the same with 5 response categories. Even with a standard question, the interpretation of the concept may reflect cultural differences both in health and health reporting.

- Representativeness of the surveys is not always optimal due to the lack of the institutionalized population.

- EHIS implemented 2007-2009. Data will thus be available in the coming years (and will be pooled by Eurostat).

References

- WHO recommendation: "Health Interview Surveys: Towards International Harmonization of Methods and Instruments," WHO Regional Office for Europe, 1996.

- EHIS standard questionnaire (version of 11/2006)

- EU-SILC, documents

- HIS-round 2004 and EU-SILC 2004 data

- European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit, EHEMU

- European Union Health Surveys Information Database, EUHSID

Work to do

• Name changed from “Perceived general health” to “Prevalence of good perceived health”, as suggested to be done by PK.
• Name changed from “Prevalence of good perceived health” to ”Self perceived health”, as suggested to be done by JTa, or not?

More indicator information will follow in due time.