IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STATA AND SPSS USERS The 2002 NAMCS and NHAMCS public-use file release marks the first time we have made Stata and SPSS documentation files available to data users. We are providing Stata "DO" programs to read in each dataset and create Stata files, as well as dictionary files (.dct) to create variable labels. For SPSS users, there are programs to read in each dataset, create SPSS files, and assign variable and value labels. If data users wish to have value labels for their Stata files, please note that the formats we provide for SAS users can be modified slightly for use with Stata. It should be pointed out that Stata will not allow value labels for character (string) format variables. In the case of NAMCS and NHAMCS data, there are a number of character or string variables, such as DIAG1 (physician's first-listed diagnosis), etc. One method you can use to solve this problem is to redefine the string variables as numeric variables. We have experimented with this and found that the variables will retain their structure (for example, the dashes used in inapplicable fourth and fifth digits for physicians' diagnosis will remain) when they are read in as numeric. This should allow you to then use the text labels in the SAS format statement, after some modification to Stata syntax, and achieve matches with the redefined variables. This is not necessary when using SPSS, and all value labels have been included in the SPSS programs. Our Stata and SPSS documentation files are new products that we are providing as a convenience to data users, and may be considered as "beta" versions for the time being. If data users experience difficulties or have suggestions for future releases of these products, please contact the Ambulatory Care Statistics Branch at 301-458-4600.