WHAT DO HEALTH INTERVIEW SURVEYS TELL US ABOUT THE PREVALENCES OF SOMATIC CHRONIC DISEASES - A STUDY INTO CONCURRENT VALIDITY

This study examines the concurrent validity of a list of chronic condi tions used in health interview surveys. The results regarding the prev alence of chronic diseases from three health interview surveys, carrie d out in The Netherlands during the 1980s, were compared. In addition, the results for chronic diseases of one of these health interview sur veys were checked against the medical records of 11 randomly selected general practices. The comparison indicates the prime importance of th e wording of the question. The level of agreement between information about chronic conditions provided by patients and by general practice medical records differed widely for the separate disease categories. T his was especially true for the reporting of migraine/serious headache , other diseases of the neurological system, diseases of the stomach a nd intestines and serious consequences of injury. Age, sex, level of e ducation and how long the interviewee was registered as a patient at t he practice played a minor role in these differences. When quantifying health differences it is essential to understand the impact of method ological influences, as minor differences in survey methodology have a substantial effect on the prevalence of chronic disease. Moreover, he alth interview surveys measure a different health status than general practice morbidity surveys. Neither method is the gold standard for th e other. A consensus on instruments and methodological procedures of h ealth interview surveys at (inter)national level should be sought.