Understanding Society User Support

Many thanks for your enquiry. The Understanding Society team is looking into it and we will get back to you as soon as we can. We aim to respond to simple queries within 48 hours and more complex issues within 7 working days.

Best wishes,
Understanding Society User Support Team

Hello Alexander,

For the continuing sample members variable hcondn identify newly diagnosed conditions for waves 2 to 9. You might also review variables hcondno(1 to 13). Each variable recorded the number of health conditions from the list (hcondn).

Starting from wave 10, a significant shift was made to the health condition questions to provide a more accurate indication of diagnosed health conditions. This change involved asking continuing sample members about their history of diagnosed health conditions rather than focusing on diagnoses since the previous interview.

This transition gave rise to variables like "hcondever" (ranging from 1 to 8, 10 to 16, 19 to 22, 96, 97). For specific conditions, follow-up questions were asked to ascertain the specific type of health condition (e.g., "arthtypn," "cancertypn," "diabetestypn," "mhealthtypn"). By combining variables "hcondever" and the follow-up questions, the variable "hcondncode" was created to display the complete list of health conditions ever diagnosed in continuing sample members.

Wave 11 onwards continuing sample members were asked if they had been newly diagnosed with any of the 22 health conditions. These variables are hcondnew(1 to 8, 10 to 16, 19 to 22, 96, 97). For some conditions, follow-up questions were asked to identify the specific type of that health condition (arthtypn, cancertypn, diabetestypn, mhealthtypn). Combining variables hcondnew and the follow-up questions, variable hcondncode was created to show continuing members complete list of health conditions ever diagnosed. You might also review variables hcondno. Each variable recorded the number of health conditions from the list (hcondnew).

Considering the change from wave 10 onwards, you might need to assume some criteria if you want to identify only new conditions for the continuing sample since the questions no longer centre on diagnoses since the last interview but instead, explore the history of diagnoses.

I hope this information is helpful.

Best wishes,
Roberto Cavazos
Understanding Society User Support Team