The Israel National Health Survey: issues and methods.
OBJECTIVE
The Israel National Health Survey--World Mental Health Survey (INHS) was designed to collect data on (a) the prevalence of mental disorders; (b) the prevalence of impairments and disabilities; (c) chronic conditions, disability, physical health, health services utilization and out-of-pocket medical expenditure which might be associated with mental disorder; and (d) socioeconomic and demographic correlates of mental disorder. This paper presents an overview of the methods used in this survey.


METHODS
The INHS was a cross-sectional survey based on a representative sample of 5,000 adults, 21 years or older, from the general population of Israel. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI) was administered in face-to-face interviews at the respondents' homes between May, 2003, and April, 2004, using computer assisted personal interview (CAPI) technology.


RESULTS
The overall response rate was 72.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
The methodology and the quality control procedures used have made the INHS database a unique source of information about the prevalence, disability burden and unmet health needs of people suffering from common mental disorders and substance disorders in Israel.
Levinson
Daphna
D
Ministry of Health, Mental Health Services Division, Jerusalem, Israel. Daphna.Levinson@moh.health.gov.il
Paltiel
Ari
A
Nir
Michal
M
Makovki
Tzahi
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence