MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: A Half Century of Health Data for the U.S. Population: The Integrated Health Interview Series (IHIS)

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2011

PMCID: PMC3175126

Abstract: The U.S. National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is theworlds longest survey time series of health data and a rich source of information on health conditions, behaviors, and care from the 1960s to the present. NHIS public-use files are difficult to use for long-term analysis, due to complex file structure, changes in questionnaire content, and evolving variable names and coding schemes. Researchers at the Minnesota Population Center have created the Integrated Health Interview Series (IHIS) to overcome these problems.IHIS provides access to thousands of consistently coded andwell-documented NHIS variables on the Internet and makes it easy to analyze health trends and differentials. IHIS multiplies the value of NHIS data by allowing researchers to make consistent comparisons over half a century and thus to study U.S. health status as a dynamic process. This article describes the main features of IHIS and suggests fruitful avenues for historical research using these invaluable health data.

User Submitted?: No

Authors: King, Miriam L

Periodical (Full): Historical Methods

Issue: 2

Volume: 44

Pages: 87-93

Countries:

IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop