Worker Health Information from the National Health Interview Survey
Chart the 2015 OHS Data
Use our data visualization tool to chart the 2015 NHIS Occupational Health Supplement data and assess:
- frequency of low back pain
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- workplace health promotion program availability and use
- workplace exposures
Data Dictionary for the 2015 Supplement Questions Included in Worker Health Charts
The following describe variables collected by the 2015 NHIS Occupational Supplement used in analysis of worker health. These variables are included in the Worker Health Chart (WHC) tool.
| Subtopic1 | Question2 | Variable Name3 | Notes4 |
| Frequent, Severe Low Back Pain | DURING THE PAST THREE MONTHS, did you have … Low back pain? 1 Yes 2 No DURING THE PAST THREE MONTHS, how often did you have low back pain? Would you say… 1 Some days 2 Most days 3 Every day Thinking about the last time you had pain, how much pain did you have? Would you say… 1 A little 2 A lot 3 Somewhere in between a little and a lot |
PAINLB LBPFREQ LBPSEV |
Frequent, Severe Low Back Pain was defined as PAINLB=1; LBPFREQ in (2,3); and LBPSEV in (2,3) |
| Low back pain attributed to work | Have you been told by a doctor or other health professional that your low back pain was probably work-related? 1 Yes 2 No |
LBPWKREL |
[1] Subtopic lists the topics/subtopics/query options included in worker health charts (e.g. employment status, race, gender).
[2] Question provides either the exact wording of the question as administered during the survey or a paraphrase of the question for brevity. When multiple variables were used to create a calculated variable, the original variable name(s) is included in parentheses after the each question, if available.
[3] Variable Name lists the names given by the NHIS program to each variable. When multiple variables were used for Subtopic calculations, all variables are listed.
[4] Notes provide additional information about the variable.
| Subtopic1 | Question2 | Variable Name3 | Notes4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (ever) | Have you EVER been told by a doctor or other health professional that you have a condition affecting the wrist and hand called carpal tunnel syndrome? 1 Yes 2 No |
CTSEVER | |
| Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (current) | DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS have you had carpal tunnel syndrome? 1 Yes 2 No |
CTSYR | |
| Current Carpal Tunnel Syndrome attributed to work | Have you been told by a doctor or other health professional that your carpal tunnel syndrome was probably work-related? 1 Yes 2 No |
CTSWKREL |
[1] Subtopic lists the topics/subtopics/query options included in worker health charts (e.g. employment status, race, gender).
[2] Question provides either the exact wording of the question as administered during the survey or a paraphrase of the question for brevity. When multiple variables were used to create a calculated variable, the original variable name(s) is included in parentheses after the each question, if available.
[3] Variable Name lists the names given by the NHIS program to each variable. When multiple variables were used for Subtopic calculations, all variables are listed.
[4] Notes provide additional information about the variable.
| Subtopic1 | Question2 | Variable Name3 | Notes4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent lifting, pushing, pulling or bending | How often does your job involve repeated lifting, pushing, pulling, or bending? Never, seldom, sometimes, often, or always? 0 Never 1 Seldom 2 Sometimes 3 Often 4 Always |
EXERTION | EXERTION in (3,4)= Yes |
| Frequent standing or walking | How often does your job involve standing or walking around? Would you say… 0 Never 1 Seldom 2 Sometimes 3 Often 4 Always |
STAND | STAND in (3,4)=Yes |
| Frequent workplace secondhand smoke exposure (among non-smokers) | DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, while at work, how often were you exposed to tobacco smoke from other people? Would you say… 0 Never 1 Less than twice a week 2 Twice a week or more, but not every day 3 Every da |
SMOKEXP | TBSMKEXP in (2,3)=Yes |
[1] Subtopic lists the topics/subtopics/query options included in worker health charts (e.g. employment status, race, gender).
[2] Question provides either the exact wording of the question as administered during the survey or a paraphrase of the question for brevity. When multiple variables were used to create a calculated variable, the original variable name(s) is included in parentheses after the each question, if available.
[3] Variable Name lists the names given by the NHIS program to each variable. When multiple variables were used for Subtopic calculations, all variables are listed.
[4] Notes provide additional information about the variable.
| Subtopic1 | Question2 | Variable Name3 | Notes4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High job demands | “I have enough time to get the job done.” 1 Strongly agree 2 Agree 3 Disagree 4 Strongly disagree |
JOBDMAND | JOBDMAND in (3,4)=Yes |
| Hostile work environment | DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, were you threatened, bullied or harassed by anyone while you were on the job? 1 Yes 2 No |
HARASSED | |
| Low job control | “My job allows me to make a lot of decisions on my own.” 1 Strongly agree 2 Agree 3 Disagree 4 Strongly disagree |
JOBCNTRL | JOBCNTRL in (3,4)=yes |
| Low supervisory support | “I can count on my supervisor or manager for support when I need it.” 1 Strongly agree 2 Agree 3 Disagree 4 Strongly disagree |
JOBSPPRT | JOBSPPRT in (3,4)=Yes; Self-employed workers are excluded for this outcome |
| Poor Safety Climate | “The health and safety of workers is a high priority with management where I work.” 1 Strongly agree 2 Agree 3 Disagree 4 Strongly disagree |
SAFCLIMT | SAFCLIMT in (3,4)=Yes |
| Work-life interference | “The demands of my job interfere with my personal or family life..” 1 Strongly agree 2 Agree 3 Disagree 4 Strongly disagree |
WORKWFAM | WRK_FAM in (1,2)=Yes |
| Workplace Perceived as unsafe | Overall, how safe do you think your workplace is? Would you say… 1 Very safe 2 Safe 3 Unsafe 4 Very unsafe |
SAFETY | SAFETY in (3,4)=Yes |
| Worry about losing job | Are you worried about losing your [current, MAIN job]? 1 Yes 2 No |
WORUNEMP |
[1] Subtopic lists the topics/subtopics/query options included in worker health charts (e.g. employment status, race, gender).
[2] Question provides either the exact wording of the question as administered during the survey or a paraphrase of the question for brevity. When multiple variables were used to create a calculated variable, the original variable name(s) is included in parentheses after the each question, if available.
[3] Variable Name lists the names given by the NHIS program to each variable. When multiple variables were used for Subtopic calculations, all variables are listed.
[4] Notes provide additional information about the variable.
| Subtopic1 | Question2 | Variable Name3 | Notes4 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent Night Work |
| 1 | 1-5 times |
| 2 | 6-10 times |
| 3 | 11-19 times |
| 4 | 20-30 times |
1 You work as an independent contractor, independent consultant, or freelance worker
2 You are paid by a temporary agency OR
work for a contractor who provides workers and services to others under contract
1 A regular daytime schedule
2 A regular evening shift
3 A regular night shift
4 A rotating shift
1 Yes
2 No
[1] Subtopic lists the topics/subtopics/query options included in worker health charts (e.g. employment status, race, gender).
[2] Question provides either the exact wording of the question as administered during the survey or a paraphrase of the question for brevity. When multiple variables were used to create a calculated variable, the original variable name(s) is included in parentheses after the each question, if available.
[3] Variable Name lists the names given by the NHIS program to each variable. When multiple variables were used for Subtopic calculations, all variables are listed.
[4] Notes provide additional information about the variable.