The European Health Interview Survey (EHIS)

1. The European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) Eurostat, Health & Safety Statistics

2. Background information • European Core Health Interview Survey (ECHIS): comprehensive and coordinated set of surveys performed within the European Statistical System under the responsibility of Eurostat • Objectives: Collection of data needed in the context of: • The Lisbon strategy: • The Structural Indicator Healthy Life Year (HLY); • The Open Method of Coordination (OMC) on Health and long term care • The public health European action plan of DG SANCO of the Commission • The European Community Health Indicators (ECHI)

3. Background information: examples of indicators Health Status • Morbidity prevalences (ex. Diabetes, Stroke) • Self-reported chronic morbidity • Long-term activity limitations • Physical and sensory functional limitations • Psychological distress / Psychological well-being • Health expectancy: Healthy Life Years (HLY), others

4. Health care use • Influenza vaccination rate in elderly • Cancer screenings (ex. breast cancer) • General practitioner (GP) utilisation • Other outpatient visits • Medicine use for selected groups • Self reported unmet need for medical care Determinants of health • Body mass index • Blood pressure • Regular smokers • Hazardous alcohol consumption • Use of illicit drugs • Consumption/availability of fruit - vegetables • Physical activity Background information: examples of indicators

5. ECHIS - three pillars: • First pillar: The European Health Interview Survey, EHIS • Second pillar: Community Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) • Third pillar: New modules on disability • EDSIM (European Disability and Social Integration Module) • 2011 LFS module on the employment of disabled persons

6. Second pillar: EU-SILC • Annual data collection since 2004 / 2005 • Implemented in 29 countries • MinimumEuropeanHealthModule – MEHM: • 3 questions on • self-perceived health in general • longstanding illness or health problem • Longstanding limitations in activities due to a health problem • 4 questions on ‘unmet needs’: • Unmet need for medical examination or treatment • Main reason for unmet need for medical examination or treatment • Unmet need for dental examination or treatment • Main reason for unmet need for dental examination or treatment

7. Third pillar: new modules on disability • LFS ad-hoc module 2011 on the “employment of disabled people” • Health problems and difficulties in basic activities • Limitations in work caused by health problems/difficulties in basic activities • Special assistance needed or used by people with health problems/difficulties in basic activities • Limitations in work because of other reasons

8. Third pillar: new modules on disability • EDSIM: Special module on disabled persons & social integration • Core social variables; • Access to and use of internet; • Access to learning opportunities; • Employment; • Economic life; • Mobility; • Transport; • Community life and leisure pursuits; • Accessibility to buildings; • Social contacts; • Negative attitudes and behaviour.

9. First pillar: European Health Interview Survey, EHISFour modules • Health determinants • Height and weight • Present and former smoking • Consumption of alcohol • Physical activity • Use of illicit drugs • Health care • Hospitalisation • Consultation with doctors/dentists • Use of medicines • Preventive actions • Health status • MEHM • Morbidity (list of conditions) • Background variables • Age • Gender • Educational level • Marital status • Activity level • Occupation • Income

10. European Health Interview Survey, EHIS • Community wide harmonised survey of about 130 questions • Flexibility for implementing the EHIS modules: • grouped in one separate national survey, or • included in existing national surveys (i.e. national HIS, LFS, other household survey). • Common guidelines for modules and survey design for the vehicle surveys • Ex-ante harmonisation: survey based on a common questionnaire

11. European Health Interview Survey, EHIS • Implemented every five years • Implementation phases: • 1st wave: 2007-2009 based on a Gentlemen’s Agreement • 2nd wave: 2014 (possible derogation: 2013) based on a legal basis

12. Participation to the 1st EHIS wave • 21 countries participate • (18 MS + TR + CH + NO) • Inclusion of the EHIS modules: • all of them in 12 MS + TR • partial inclusion in 6 MS + CH + NO

13. EHIS first wave: data release • On the Eurostat website in three steps: • by April 2010 for 6 countries (BG, CZ, CY, LV, MT, SI); • by October 2010 for BE, HU, RO, TR; • by April 2011 for EL, ES, PL, SK. for a set of around 40 indicators (ECHI+OMC) • Release of the EHIS anonymised microdata to the research community • By June 2011

14. EHIS 2nd wave foreseen for 2014 (derogation 2013) Brief timetable: 2010: start of the preparatory work EHIS workshop in the 2nd semester of 2010 Participants: HIS experts from all MS, EFTA, CC Share experience with the EHIS implementation  problems; anticipate; improvements, recommendations, updated guidelines, conceptual cards for 2nd EHIS round By the end of 2012: adoption by the Commission of the list of questions/variables included in the EHIS 2nd wave EHIS 2nd wave

15. EHIS actions foreseen in 2010/2011 • Content of the EHIS second wave questionnaire: • Focused on information needed for policy purposes (SI, OMC and ECHI indicators) • Improvement of those parts of the EHIS questionnaire considered as being problematic (at least the questions on mental health, physical activity and alcohol consumption need improvement) • Possibly, taking some BI-Mark II questions

16. Conclusion • Floor is open for discussion