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.


OBJECTIVE
To test the "health-line", a simple, comprehensive method of collecting data on self-rated health over time.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
The method worked well and is well worth further development and testing.
Ringsberg
K C
KC
Department of Health and Environment, University of Linköping, Sweden. karin@nvh.se
Alexanderson
K A
KA
Borg
K E
KE
Hensing
G K
GK
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012647:Self-Assessment; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology