52 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

52.1 Organization

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), CDC

52.2 Website

www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm

52.3 Description

  • Used to track health status, health care access, and progress toward achieving national health objectives in US civilian non-institutionalized population
  • Includes basic health and demographic items and one or more sets of questions on current health topics with major health topics including physical and mental health status, chronic conditions including asthma and diabetes, access to and use of health care services, health insurance coverage and type, behaviors such as smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity, measures of functioning and activity limitations, and immunizations. Includes race and Hispanic origin, sexual orientation and veterans health information.

52.4 Vintage/Release Frequency

Annual starting in 1997

52.5 Observational Unit

Family, household, injury episode, person, sample child, sample adult

52.6 Collection Methodology

  • Cross-sectional, household interview survey
  • Sampling and interviewing continuous throughout each year
  • Multistage area probability design (county/county group/metropolitan statistical area, address, adult and child)
  • Four separate panels and each panel is representative of the US population

52.8 User Guide/Data Dictionary

Questionnaires and other documentation available at same website as data download

52.9 Cost

Free

52.10 Proposal or Application required?

No

52.11 DUA required?

No

52.12 Special Notes

Methodology has changed over time. In January 2019, NHIS launched a redesigned content and structure that differs from its previous questionnaire design (1997–2018).