Notices for Data Users, User Cautions and Future Updates
	    1999 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
			  02/28/2002

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	   1999 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
			 Public Use Release

New for the 1999 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is the 
addition of questions related to chronic conditions and health 
care access and utilization in the Sample Adult and Sample Child 
questionnaires.  These periodic questions are imbedded in the 
Sample Adult and Sample Child questionnaires and may be asked 
again in future years.  Periodic questions are identified by 
nine-digit question numbers, as opposed to the six-digit 
question numbers used for the Core questions.  Please see the 
Survey Description Document for more detail.  Topics include: 

   - Adult chronic conditions, including hypertension (high 
     blood pressure), heart disease, osteoporosis, 
     Parkinson's disease, asthma, digestive disorders, 
     diabetes, joint problems, eye/ear problems, mental 
     health, etc.
   - Adult preventive health, including dental care, cancer 
     screening, and tetanus shots
   - Adult use of alternative therapies and treatments
   - Female health issues, such as menstrual cycles, 
     menopause, and hormone replacement therapy
   - Children's health topics, including asthma, dental 
     care, and access to care.

Changes to the Core questionnaires were minimal during 1999 and 
include:

   - Questions on the Children's Health Insurance Program 
     and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program
   - New race/ethnicity variables consistent with OMB 
     guidelines.  For instance, "Asian and Pacific 
     Islander" is now split into two categories, "Asian", 
     and "Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander".  
     However, confidentiality concerns do not permit the 
     NHIS to show data for Native Hawaiians and some Asian 
     subgroups separately.  Documentation on these changes 
     will be released in the near future.

Users are encouraged to join the NHIS Listserv and receive 
automatic announcements of updates to the NHIS files.  To join 
the Listserv, visit the CDC website at: 

   http://www.cdc.gov/subscribe.html

In addition, notices of changes will be posted in the 
HIS99LOG.TXT file, accessed through the 1999 Notices Section of 
the NHIS website:

   http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm

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Contact information for questions on the NHIS:

National Center for Health Statistics
Division of Health Interview Statistics
6525 Belcrest RD, Rm. 850
Hyattsville, MD   20782

E-mail: nhislist@cdc.gov
Voice:  301-458-4901
FAX:    301-458-4035