The health-line : a method for collecting data on self-rated health over time: a pilot study

• Background: There is a need for an instrument to record a life-course perspective of self-rated health. Aim: To test the ''health-line'', a simple, comprehensive method of collecting data on self-rated health over time. Method: In 1996, a questionnaire was mailed to people who in 1985 were aged between 25 and 34 years old and had a sick-leave spell >28 days with ''back diagnoses''. They were asked to rate their global health graphically with a ''health-line'' for the years 1985-95. Official data on sick leave and disability pension were obtained for the same period. In all, 37 out of 52 men and 60 out of 83 women answered; that is, they drew a health-line. Result: A statistically significant negative correlation between the mean number of absence days due to ill health and the health-line data was found for every year (r = -0.35 to -0.53; p < 0.001 ) and for the whole period 1985-95 (r = -0.546; p < 0.001) respectively. Conclusion: The method worked well and is well worth further development and testing.

Nyckelord

Health-LINE

Ill

Health

Life-LINE

Self-RATED

Health

Sick

Leave

Sickness

Absence

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

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