- Eurostat currently does not age-standardize EU-SILC data. For comparability reasons ECHIM would prefer age-standardized data, however.
- Experts in health inequalities advice using four aggregated ISCED levels rather than three (see documentation sheet for indicator 6. Population by education). However, as all major international databases (Eurostat, WHO-HFA, OECD) currently apply an aggregation into 3 groups, for pragmatic reasons ECHIM follows that common methodology for now.
- EU-SILC data on self-reported chronic morbidity are being used for the computation of the Health Expectancy indicator (see the documentation sheet for indicator 41. Health Expectancy, others).
- The EU-SILC question on longstanding illness/health problem (chronic morbidity) is part of the Minimum European Health Module (MEHM), which is also included in the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS). Once EHIS is fully implemented the quality of the data on chronic morbidity derived from EHIS should be assessed and compared to the quality of the data derived from EU-SILC. If the former is better, ECHIM may consider appointing EHIS as preferred source for this indicator. A disadvantage of EHIS is that EHIS will only be carried out once every five years, while EU-SILC is carried out annually. Another issue that should be taken into account is that the EU-SILC data are being used in the computation of the ‘Health Expectancy, others’ indicator (see above). From a consistency point of view it would therefore be preferable to keep EU-SILC as the preferred source for this ECHI indicator (chronic morbidity).
- Eurostat metadata, the implementation of the health questions in SILC is not yet fully harmonized and, thus, the comparability of the results is to be further improved for some countries. New guidelines for this question were provided by Eurostat in October 2007 to the Member States, in order to improve the data comparability for the coming years The implementation of the health questions in SILC is not yet fully harmonized and, thus, the comparability of the results is limited. New guidelines for this question were provided by Eurostat in October 2007 to the Member States, in order to improve the data comparability for the coming years.
- Eurostat metadata, SILC variables on health status: The main characteristics of a chronic condition are that it is permanent and may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation or care. Rather than adding further details to the question wording, interviewers should be instructed to be as inclusive as possible in answering the question. This means that the following would all be included:
- problems that are seasonal or intermittent, even where they ‘flare up’ for less than six months at a time;
- problems not seem by the respondent as very serious (hay fever again): the item on
- severity or limitation would ‘screen out’ less serious problems at the second stage;
- problems that have not been diagnosed by a doctor (to exclude these would mean
- permitting those with better access to medical services to declare more problems);
- problems that the respondent treats himself or herself (e.g. with over-the-counter
- drugs);
- problems that have lasted (or recurred), or are expected to last (recur) over a six month period or longer.
- Target population of EU-SILC are individuals aged 16 years old and over living in private households. People living in institutions (elderly people, disabled people) are therefore excluded from the survey. This will bias the survey outcomes.
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Definition
