From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics Number 141 � September 23, 1987 

Health Practices and Perceptions of U.S. Adults 

with Noninsulin=Dependent Diabetes: 

Data From the 1985 National Health Interview Survey of 

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 

by Thomas F. Drury, Ph. D., Division of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, 

and Ildy 1. Shannon, Office of Analysis and Epidemiology Program 

Introduction 

In recent years there have been notable attempts to summarize what is known about current and historical aspects 

of the magnitude, severity, scope, sources, and impact of 

diabetes mellitus as a public health problem in the United 

Sttttcs and in other countries. 1+ But much still remains to 

be clarified with regard to health practices and perceptions 

hewing on the self-care of diabetes mellitus. A major reason 

for this latter state of affairs has been the lack of appropriate 

sets of measurements on representative samples of persons 

with diahetcs. 

This report addresses selected aspects of these diabetes 

data needs for the United States based on information obtained 

through the 1985 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP) study. The 

ckdtcipresented were obtained from a subsample of persons 

18 years of age and over. A brief description of the procedures 

used in the 1985 NHIS, as well as in the HPDP study, is 

given in the Technical notes section of this report. 

Background 

Proper care and management of diabetes are essential 

for two reasons. No known cure for diabetes exists, and 

muny of the acute and long-term complications of diabetes 

mtiy be checked in varying degrees by appropriate treatment .5+ 

Prescriptions for such care generally include an ongoing relationship with the health care system. Depending on the 

type and severity of diabetes and other patient characteristics, 

selective use or an optimal mix of diet, exercise, and administmtion of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents constitute the 

essentials of treatment. A high premium also is placed on 

good health practices, the use of preventive health services, 

and patient and family knowledge of the contribution of treatment modes to successful management of diabetes. Patient 

knowledge is important because, aside from regular contacts 

with a physician or other health care practitioners, health 

care of diabetes is primarily self-care. 

However, until recently relatively little effort had been 

made to cull information describing these aspects of the management of diabetes from available national data resources. 

In the late 1970’s, staff of the National Center for Health 

Statistics had collaborated with staff of the then National 

Institute of Arthritis, Diabetes, and Digestive and Kidney 

Diseases in a series of secondary analyses of data obtained 

through NHIS between 1973 and 1978 for persons 20 years 

of age and over with known diabetes. The results of those 

analyses were published in an article in Health, United States, 

1981.7 That article described the utilization of health services 

(including the use of preventive health services) by adults 

with known diabetes and highlighted their use of diet, medication, and exercise, as well as their compliance with other 

good health practices. This report extends those earlier 

analyses. 

Objective 

The purpose of this report is twofold: (1) to provide 

more current information on selected health practices and 

perceptions of adults with known diabetes based on data obtained through the 1985 NHIS–HPDP study=g and (2) thereby 

to stimulate further analysis of this data base by diabetes 

researchers and by health care professionals with an interest 

in diabetes care. Although the information is presented without 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service 
2 advallCedm 

textual summarization or detailed analytical commentary, the 

references cited in this introduction, in the footnotes to table 1, and in the Technical notes section of the report will 

guide the reader wishing to make accurate use of the information presented. Articles published in the November–December 

1986 and January-February 1987 issues of the journal Public 

Health Reports are particularly helpful in locating the 1985 

HPDP study’s data elements in the general context of the 

Department of Health and Human Services’ 1990 Objectives . 

for~he Nation. 1&20 

Scope 

Several aspects of the scope of this report require comment. First, “diabetes mellitus” is a term which refers to 

a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by glucose 

intolerance .21 Generally, two major types of diabetes are distinguished: insulin-dependent diabetes and noninsulin-dependent 

diabetes. Based on an analysis of information collected in 

the 1976 NHIS on the age of onset of diabetes, history of 

medication use, and weight relative to height, it has been 

estimated that the vast majority (more than 90 percent) of 

adults with known diabetes, as ascertained through household 

interview surveys, have noninsulin-dependent diabetes.zz 

Because national health surveys, including NHIS, do not 

oversimple insulin-dependent diabetics, national survey 

respondents with known diabetes are mainly persons with 

noninsulin-dependent diabetes. Persons with insulin-dependent 

diabetes are included in the NHIS sample, but in such few 

numbers as to have relatively little effect on the survey results. 

It is not possible to routinely distinguish NHIS sample cases 

with diabetes by the type of diabetes they have (the 1976 

NHIS was an exception); therefore, users of the data presented 

in this report should be cautious not to generalize the information presented here to insulin-dependent diabetics 18 years 

of age and over. To emphasize this, the phrase “noninsulindependent diabetes” has been included in the title of this 

report, although a small number of insulin-dependent diabetics 

are included in the sample and in the results presented. 

Because the 1985 HPDP study was not designed specifically as a survey of the health practices and perceptions of 

persons with known diabetes, there are some obvious aspects 

of their lifestyles with respect to health that are not included 

in this report. Questions on medication use, for example, 

were not asked in the 1985 HPDP study. Limited information 

on this latter topic from earlier NHIS surveys has been previously published .7’23 

Despite this limitation of the data, the 1985 HPDP study 

contains a wealth of information d]rectly pertinent to a better 

descriptive understanding of the management of noninsulindependent diabetes in the United States. The information in 

the text table can be used to provide a current answer to 

the foliowing kinds of questions: To what extent do adults 

with known diabetes practice what are generally considered 

“good” health practices? To what extent are adult diabetics 

knowledgeable about things that may or may not affect their 

chances of getting heart disease? To what extent do persons 

with diabetes experience stress in their lives, and to what 

extent do they perceive such stress to have any effect on 

their health? To what extent do they engage in exercise, 

sports, or physically active hobbies, and what are the main 

types of exercise in which they engage? How many diabetics 

currently smoke cigarettes, and in what amounts? Are individuals with known diabetes aware of problems associated with 

smoking? To what extent do diabetics make use of alcoholic 

beverages, and to what extent are they aware of problems 

associated with heavy alcohol drinking? What do diabetics 

perceive to be the major ways of preventing tooth decay 

and gum disease? What do they know about reasons for tooth 

loss in adults? To what extent are they exposed on their 

jobs to occupational health hazards: noxious substances, working conditions that could endanger their health, or the risk 

of injury? 

Because the responses to the 1985 HPDP study are presented in this report by diabetic status and age, readers also 

may explore age variations in health practices and perceptions 

among adult diabetics, as well as age-specific comparisons 

between persons with and without known diabetes. Also. because diabetics as a group are much older than nondiabet ics ,24 

it is important to consider whether apparent differences between diabetics and nondiabetics may simply retlect differences in practices and perceptions associated with age. 

Organization of text table 

Information bearing on the aforementioned kinds of questions is shown in the text table, which presents the responses 

to the HPDP questionnaire items in terms of estimated percents 

or percent distributions for all persons 18 years of age and 

over for three age groups by whether or not the person has 

known diabetes. Generally, except for the questions on knowledge of health practices where “don’t know” is a Iegit imate 

response, “don’t know” and other inappropriate responses were 

excluded from the denominator in the calculation of the estimates. In most cases, the actual question asked of the respondent is shown along with the response categories. In a few 

cases, there has been minor paraphrasing or combining of 

questions. Each question is referenced to the item number 

on the questionnaire. 

The data in the table are organized into nine sections, 

as follows: 

� General health habits.


� Injury control and child safety and health.


� High blood pressure.


� Stress.


� Exercise.


� Smoking.


� Alcohol use.


� Dental care. 

� Occupational safety and health. 

Most of the questions on knowledge of health practices 

have answers that currently are presumed to be correct (as 

determined by the Public Health Service agency with “lead” 

responsibility). An earlier publication in this series established 

the convention of highlighting these “correct” answer 

categories in boldface type;9 this convention has been continued here. However, it should be noted that the special 
advancdata 3 

circumsttinces of persons with known diabetes were not 

explicitly considered by “lead” agencies in determining what 

a “correct response” to a particular item on the 1985 HPDP 

questionnaire might be. 

In most instances this presents no difficulty. But in one 

instance the boldface-type convention for indicating a “correct” 

response to an HPDP question in the earlier report has been 

removed in this report because there is no one correct answer 

for persons with diabetes; that is the case of the characteristics 

of exercise required for cardiovascular conditioning (items 

R,7a, R.7b, and R.7c in the table). As is pointed out in 

the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Guidelines 

jhr Exercise Testing and Prescription, 25 the development of 

an exercise program for a person with diabetes has to be 

done with consideration for a number of factors, including 

the type of diabetes the person has, whether the person’s 

ditibctcs is well controlled or not well controlled, the type 

and timount of medication the person is taking, whether the 

person is obese and thereby possibly at risk of orthopedic 

injtrics from weight-bearing activities, and whether the person 

hus tiny ditibetic complications that require the avoidance of 

excessive jtirring or marked increases in blood pressure. The 

extent to which diabetics’ perceptions and ACSM guidelines 

arc consistent with respect to prudent exercise behavior for 

persons with these different types of diabetes is a topic that 

further mdysis of the 1985 HPDP data base might be able 

to elucidate. However, because such an analysis would require 

more fine-grained tabulations than are presented in this report, 

the %orrcct” answer categories that appeared in the earlier 

publication for items R.7a–R.7c have been removed. 

Related publications, research opportunities, and 

public use data tapes 

For some questions in the text table, references are provided to schxted publications that present related data, at 

least for the general population, from previous data collection 

by the National Center for Health Statistics. In certain instances, data from these earlier reports can be tabulated by 

diabetic status by matching NHIS public use computer records 

containing the information about health practices with the 

NHIS public use computer records containing information 

about diabetes conditions. 

Further analysis of the information presented in this report 

by diabetic status can be accomplished more directly because 

the 1985 HPDP study questionnaire included an item on 

whether or not the respondent had known diabetes. A number 

of strategic research issues can be pursued with these 1985 

HPDP study data, including clarification of patterns of exercise 

participation among persons with known diabetes. Readers 

interested in this area of research are encouraged to consult 

the growing body of literature on this topic.2&3 ] Discussions 

in the journal literature of the role of exercise in the management of diabetes generally have been written carefully so 

as to treat this topic in the context of the type of diabetes, 

medical complications, and other characteristics a person may 

have. Many important issues that need to be studied better 

in the laboratory and in the general population also have 

been highlighted in recent state-of-the-art reviews of the role 

of exercise in the management of noninsulin-dependent diabetes,32 including the Consensus Statement resulting from 

a recent National Institutes of Health Consensus Development 

Conference, “Diet and Exercise in Noninsulin-Dependent 

Diabetes Mellitus.”33 

Information regarding the purchase of the public use data 

tapes for the 1985 NHIS–HPDP study can be obtained by 

contacting Dr. Owen T. Thomberry, Director, Division of 

Health Interview Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, Room 2-44, 3700 East-West Highway, Hyattsville, Md. 

20782 (telephone: (30 1) 436-7085). 
4 advancdata 

Table 1. Estimates of the percent Of Population with selected behaviors and knowledge from the 1985 National Health Interview


Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: United States, 1985


(Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutional ized population. The survey design, general 

qualifications, and information on the reliability of the estimates are given in technical notes. ) 

Diabetic Nondiabetic


Section


and


itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+


number Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years


Percent of population


Total ............................................................. 10D 100 100 100 100 100 100 100


GENERA HEALTH HABITS


N.1. How often do you eat breakfast?l 

Almost every day ................................................ 79 59 75 92 54 44 62 86 

Sometimes ....................................................... 10 17 13 4 21 26 6 

Rarely or never ................................................. 11 23 12 4 25 30 ;: 8 

N.2. Including evening snacks, how often do you eat between meals?l 

Almost every day ................................................ 39 42 42 34 39 42 38 30 

Scmetimes ....................................................... 26 27 24 26 33 35 30 27 

Rarely or never ................................................. 36 31 33 40 28 23 32 43 

N.3. When you visit a doctor or other health professional for 

routine care, is eating proper foods discussed? 

Often ........................................................... 38 48 39 33 8 10


Sfimetimes....................................................... 23 21 25 23 1: 16 15 12


Rarely or never ................................................. 37 30 33 44 66 66 64 67


Oon’t visit for routine care .................................... 2 2 3 1 10 10 10 9


N.5. In your opinion which of these are the two best ways to lose 

weight? 

Oon’teat at bedtime ............................................ 31 25 30 29 28 30 32 

Eat fewer calories .............................................. 77 75 ;; 76 74 73 78 73 

Take diet pills ................................................. 

Increase physical activity ...................................... 5’i 7; 5; 4; 7: 8; 6: 5: 

Eat no fat...................................................... 20 14 17 26 11 8 12 20 

Eatgrapefruit with each meal ................................... 6 4 6 6 4 4 5 5 

Oon’t know...................................................... 11 9 1 14 6 3 6 15 

N.6. Areyounow trying toloseweight?2 (Yes)......................... 42 39 53 32 35 36 39 24 

N.7. Are you eating fewer calories to lose weight?2 (Persons trying 

to lose weight (yes) in N.6) (Yes)................................ 86 86 89 80 80 79 83 83 

N.8. Have you increased your physical activ{ty to lose weight?2 

(Persons trying to lose weight (yes) in N.6) (Yes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 55 35 31 58 64 51 41 

N.9. Oo you consider yourself overweight, underweight, or just 

about right? (If overweight) Would you say you are very 

overweight, somewhat ovemei ght, or only a 1ittle ovetweight?2,3 

Very overweight ................................................. 17 22 11 7 11 

Scnnewhatoverweight ............................................. 21 ;: 22 20 1? 21 

Only a little overweight ........................................ 19 22 18 21 :; 24 

About right ..................................................... 39 ;: 30 46 49 51 41 52 

Undeweight ..................................................... 4 4 4 4 6 6 3 8 

N.1O. On the average, how many hours of S1eep do you get in a 

24-hour period?l 

Less than 7 hours ............................................... 22 21 25 18 22 22 22 20 

7-8 hours ....................................................... 60 71 58 58 66 67 68 59 

9or more hours ................................................. 18 8 17 23 12 11 10 20 

N. Il. Is there a particular clinic, health center, doctor’s office, 

or other place that you usually go to if you are sick or need 

advice about your health?4 (Yes).................................. 95 93 94 97 77 73 83 88 

N.15. About how long has it been since you had a Pap smear 

test?5 (Females only) 

;e;s.a;han1 year ................!............................... 32 52 31 27 46 55 38 25 

.......................................................... 17 23 18 13 17 19 17 13


2 years ......................................................... 13 14 14 12 10 8 13 12


3-4 years ....................................................... 10 4 12 10 7 6 10 10


5 or more years ................................................. 7 21 18 11 5 18 26


Never ........................................................... 1: 2 5 19 7 7 4 14


See footnotes at end of table.

advamedata 5 

Table 1. Estimates of the percent of population with selected behaviors and knowledge from the 1985 National Health Interview


Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: Uni ted States, 1985--Con. 

(Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutional ized population. The survey design, general 

qualifications, and information on the reliability of the estimates are given in technical notes. ) 

Diabetic Nondiabetic 

Section 

and 

itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 

number Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years 

N,16a. 

N.16b. 

N.16C. 

O.la. 

O,lb. 

0.3. 

0.4. 

0.10. 

0.12a. 

0.13. 

0.14. 

GENERAL HEALTH HA81TS--Con.


About how long has it been since you had a breast examination


by a doctor or other health professional?5 (Females only)


Less than lyear ................................................


I year ..........................................................


2 years .........................................................


3-4 years .......................................................


5or more years .................................................


Never ...........................................................


Do you know how to examine your own breasts for


lumps? (Females only) (Yes).......................................


About how many times a year do you examine your own breasts


for lumps? (Females only)


120r more times ................................................


7-11 times ......................................................


2-6 times .......................................................


Once a year .....................................................


Never ...........................................................


Don't know howtoexami ne own breast ............................


INJURY CONTROL ANO CHILO SAFETY AND HEALTH 

Have you ever heard about Poison Control Centers? (Persons in


families with children under 10 years of age) (Yes)...............


Oo you have the telephone number for a Poison Control Center


in your area? (Persons in families with children under 10 years


of age) (Yes).....................................................


Have you heard about child safety seats, sometimes called car


safety carriers, which are designed to carry children while


they are riding in a car? (Persons in families with children


under 5years of age) (Yes).......................................


Did a doctor or other health professional ever tell you about


the importance of using car safety seats for your children?


(Persons in families with children under 5 years of age) (Yes)....


!4hendriving or riding in a car, do you wear a seat belt3--


All ormostof the time .........................................


Some of the time ................................................


Once in awhile ..................................................


Never ...........................................................


Oon'tride in car ...............................................


Ooes this home have any working smoke detectors? (Based on


Items O,lla. -c.) (Yes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Oo you know about what the hot water temperature is in this 

hone? (Yes)....................................................... 

In the past 12 months, have you (or has anyone in your household)


used a thermometer to test the temperature of the hot water here?


(Yes)...................................................0.........


Above what temperature will hot water cause seald injuries?


127 degrees or less .............................................


128-139 degrees (can produce burns in less than a minute) .......


140 degrees or above (can produce burns in 5 seconds or less )...


Oon’t know ......................................................


Percent of population


44 56 43 40 51 56 45 39 

18 24 20 14 18 19 18 14 

10 5 11 10 10 8 12 10 

8 11 8 6 

11 ; ID ; 4 1; 1: 

10 7 6 i; 7 7 5 14 

82 93 83 76 87 89 90 78


35 44 37 29 32 31 37 29 

1 2 3 2 

3: 3: 3: 30 34 37 3: 25 

3 5 2 3 5 5 4 4 

12 14 13


;: 7 1: ;: 13 11 ;: :!


83 92 58 92 88 89 78 63


52 64 24 64 61 62 49 32


99 100 96 100 98 98 97 98


38 46 25 31 45 46 33 19


30 37 30 36 36 36 34


19 15 :: 17 18 19 18 15


9


:; :; :: 44 ;: :: $ :;


2 o 2 3 1 0 1 2


54 61 52 53 60 61 61 57


36 38 39 32 36 33 46 35


3 5 2 2 4 4 4 3


9 14 9 6 14 18 10 6 

1 2 3 1 

2! 20 2: 1: 2: 

69 65 66 75 : :! 62 ;: 

See footnotes at end of table.

6 advamedata 

Table 1. Estimates of the percent of population with selected behaviors and knowledge from the 1985 National Health Interview 

Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: United States, 1985--Con. 

(Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey design, general 

qualifications, and information on the reliability of the estimates are given in technical notes. ) 

Diabetic Nondiabetic 

Section 

and 

itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 

number Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years 

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Percent of population


P.1.	 I am going to read a list of things which may or may not


affect a person’s chances of getting heart disease. After I


read each one, tell me if you think it definitely increases,


probably increases, probably does not, or definitely does not


increase a person’s chances of getting heart disease.


Cigarette smoking


Increases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 91 B5 81 91 94 90 82 

Definitely increases ........................................ 62 67 64 57 67 70 66 

Probably increases .......................................... 23 24 22 23 24 24 24 :: 

Does not increase ............................................. 4 6 4 3 4 5 

Probably does not increase .................................. i i 3 4 3 2 3 3 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 1 1 2 1 2 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 11 4 1! 14 ; 3 ! 13 

Worry or anxiety


Increases ..................................................... 83 87 86 79 85 85 8B B1 

Definitely increases ........................................ 43 47 38 40 45 

Probably increases .......................................... :? 44 39 41 45 :: 43 ;: 

Does not increase ............................................. 7 8 6 7 8 10 6 6 

Probably does not increase .................................. 4 7 4 4 6 8 5 5 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 1 3 2 2 2 

Oon’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 1: 6 : 14 7 6 : 13 

High blood pressure


Increases ..................................................... 90 93 93 86 92 94 92 85 

Definitely increases ........................................ 67 68 71 61 69 70 59 

Prubably increases .......................................... 23 25 22 24 23 ;; 22 26 

Does notincrease ..........................a.................. 2 4 1 3 3 2 3 3 

Probably does not increase .................................. 2 0 2 2 2 2 2 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 1 i 0 1 1 1 1 1 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 8 4 6 11 5 4 5 12 

Diabetes 

Increases ..................................................... 76 77 69 61 65 47 

Definitely increases ........................................ ;: 52 52 42 31 : 24 

Prubably increases .......................................... 26 24 25 27 29 ;; 27 23 

Ooes not increase ............................................. 8 i2 6 10 10 10 9 

Probably does not increase .................................. 5 9 i 4 7 8 7 6 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 1; 1; 1: 2; 2; 2: 3; 4; 

Being very overweight 

Increases ..................................................... 91 94 93 87 94 95 94 87 

Definitely increases ........................................ 69 75 74 70 72 

Probably increases .......................................... 22 19 19 % 24 23 E z 

Does not increase ............................................. 3 1 2 4 2 2 2 2 

Probably does not increase .................................. 2 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 

Oon’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 7 5 5 9 4 3 4 10 

Overwork


Increases..................................................... 63 77 67 55 72 78 67 58 

Definitely increases ........................................ 31 35 34 26 31 33 31 25 

Probably increases .......................................... 32 42 32 28 41 44 36 33 

Does not increase ............................................. 21 20 26 19 16 24 24 

Probably does not increase .................................. 14 H 13 18 13 12 16 16 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 3 6 4 8 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 1: 9 Ii 1; 9 6 9 1: 

Orinking coffee with caffeine


Increases..................................................... 48 51 48 47 52 54 51 43 

Definitely increases ........................................ 16 15 13 

Probably increases .......................................... $ ;: 32 32 :: :; 38 :: 

Does not increase ............................................. 26 27 27 25 29 29 30 28 

Probably does not increase.................................. 19 23 19 17 22 23 22 19 

Definitely does not increase................................ 8 5 8 8 7 6 8 9 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 26 22 25 28 19 17 19 29 

See footnotes at end of table. 
advamedata 7 

Table 1. Estimates of the percent of population with selected behaviors and knowledge from the 1985 National Health Interview 

Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: United States, 1985--Con. 

(Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey design, general 

qualifications,and information on the reliability of the estimates are given in technical notes. ) 

Diabetic Nondiabetic 

Section 

and 

itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 

number Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years 

HIGH 8LOO0 PRESSURE--Con. Percent of population 

P.1. I am going to read a list of things which may or may not


affect a person’s chances of getting heart disease, After I


read each one, tell me if you think it definitely increases,


probably increases, probably does not, or definitely does not


increase a person’s chances of getting heart disease.--Con.


Eating a dtet high in animal fat


Increases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 85 80 75 81 81 83 77 

Definitely increases........................................ 44 43 51 38 42 41 41 

Probably increases.......................................... 35 42 29 38 39 40 ;: 36 

Does not increase,...,,.,,,,,,,,,.,,,,,.,.,,,,,,.,,,,,.,,..,., 4 4 6 8 9 7 6 

Probably does not increase.................................. : 3 3 5 6 4 

Definitely does not increase................................ 1 1 ; ; Don’tknow/No opinion......................................... 16 1; 1: 19 1: 11 10 1: 

Family history of heart disease


Increases..................................................... 79 87 81 73 84 87 84 71


Definitely increases........................................ 48 57 54 38 49 51 51 39


Probably increases.......................................... 31 31 27 35 35 36 33 32


Does not increase............................................. 9 6 8 11 8 7 8 12


Probably does not increase.................................. 6 4 5 5 4 5 7


Definitely does not increase................................ 2 ; 3 5


Oon’tknow/No opinion......................................... 1; 6 1: 16 i 6 : 17


High cholesterol


Increases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 89 84 80 87 90 88 77 

Definitely increases........................................ 54 58 58 48 55 58 49 

Probably increases.......................................... 29 31 26 32 32 :: 30 29 

Ooes not increase............................................. 4 5 3 4 4 4 4 5 

Probably does not increase.................................. 2 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 

Definitely does not increase................................ 2 

Oon’t know/No opinion......................................... 1: : 1; 12 : ; ; 18 

P.2.	 The following conditions are related to having a stroke. In 

your opinion, which of these conditions most increases a 

person’s chances of having a stroke? 

Diabetes........................................................ 7 7 7 3


High blood pressure............................................. 71 7; 71 70 7: 7? 81 7:


High cholesterol................................................ 13 10 15 12 12 13 10 10


Don’t know...................................................... 9 6 7 11 6 5 6 11


P.3. Which one of the following substances in food is most often


associated with high blood pressure? 

Sodim (orsalt) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5B 67 60 51 59 60 62 51


Cholesterol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 23 24 22 25 26 24 24


Sugar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 4 9 10


Don’t know...................................................... 9 6 7 H : : : 15


P.12a, About how long has it been since you last had your blood


pressure taken by a doctor or other health professional?2,3


Less than 6mnths .............................................. 83 72 81 90 55 59 70


6-n months..................................................... 10 14 11 8 18 x 15 13


12mnths to23 months.......................................... 4 11 5 1 14 16 13 8


24 months and over.............................................. 2 3 3 1 13 14 12 9


P.12b.	 Blood pressure is usually given as one number over another.


Were you told what your blood pressure was, in numbers? (Persons


with blood pressure checked within 24 months in 12a) (Yes)........ 66 69 66 64 68 67 71 67


P.14.	 Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health


professional that you had high cholesterol? (Yes)................. 16 12 20 14 5 2 8 10


See footnotes at end of table.

8 

Table 1. Estimates of the percent of POPU1ation with selected behaviors and knowled9e from the 1985 National Health Interview


Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: United States, 1985--Con.


(Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey design, general


qualifications,and information on the reliability of the estimates are given in technical notes.)


Diabetic Nondiabetic


Section


and


itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+


number Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years


STRESS Percent of population


Q.1.	 During the past 2 weeks, WOU1d you say that you experienced a 

lot of stress, a moderate amount of stress, relatively 1ittle 

stress, or almost no stress at all? 

Alot of stress................................................. 20 29 24 12 20 23 19 11


Arroderate amount of stress..................................... 22 32 25 16 31 34 30 18


Relatively little stress........................................ 20 22 18 22 23 23 22 21


Almost none..................................................... 34 15 30 45 25 19 27 46


Don’tknow what stress is....................................... 4 2 3 6 2 1 2 4


Q.2. InAt;~tpastyear, how much effect has stress had on your health? 

........................................................... 23 10 

some............................................................ ;; :: 27 :: $: ;: 2? 

Hardly any or none.............................................. 50 35 47 :: 55 52 56 66 

Don’tknow what stress is....................................... 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 

Q.3a. In the past year? did you think about seeking help for any 

personal or enmtlonal problems from family or friends? (Yes)...... 10 22 10 5 15 20 9 4 

Q.3b. In the past year, did you think about seeking help for any 

personal or emotional problems from a helping professional or a 

self-help group? (Yes)............................................ 9 20 11 4 11 14 8 4 

Q.4. Did you actual1y seek any help? (Yes) From whom did YOU seek 

help? 

Family or friends............................................... 4 10 2 

Professional or self help group................................. 7 11 : : ; : i 3 

EXERCISE 

R.2a. In the past 2 weeks, have you done any of the fol1owing 

exercises, sports, or physically active hobbies6--

Walking for exercise............................................ 40 50 40 36 42 42 41 42 

Jogging or running.............................................. 12 2 0 1 

Calisthenics or general exercise................................ 1: 19 7 10 ;: :; 1: 11 

8iking.......................................................... 7 17 6 4 11 13 8 6 

Swiming or water exercises..................................... 3 8 2 1 10 13 6 3 

R.3. Do you exercise or play sports regularly? (Yes)................... 26 41 21 24 41 47 32 30 

R.4. For how 1ong have you exercised or played sports regularly? 

Less than lyear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 9 3 5 7 4 

l.2years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 8 : 5 6 7 5 i’ 

3-4 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 3 3 

5 or more years................................................. 12 1: 1: 1; 25 2: 20


Donot exercise regularly....................................... 75 60 79 76 60 54 69 $;


R.5a. Would you say that you are physically more active, less active,


or about as active as other persons your age?1S3 IS that (a lot 

more or a little more/a lot less or a little less) active? 

A lot more...................................................... 12 15 13 18 16 19 23 

A little more................................................... : 14 

About as active................................................. i: 4; 47 50 ;: i; :: i: 

A lot less...................................................... 16 11 22 12 5 7 

A little less................................................... 13 18 14 10 1: 14 i 7 

R.7a. How many days a week do you think a person should exercise


to strengthen the heart and 1ungs?


Less than 3days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3


3.4days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2: 4: li 4: 5: 3;


5days or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 33 ;; 45 38 34 44 i:


Don’t know. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 14 28 38 15 8 20 34


R.7b.	 For how many minutes do You think a person should exercise 

on each occasion so that-the heart and lungs are 

strengthened?


Less than 15 minutes............................................ 10 8 9 11 6 4


15t025minutes ................................................ 21 21 24 18 23 24 2; 2:


More than 25minutes ............................................ 34 54 34 25 53 62 45 29


Don’t know...................................................... 36 17 34 45 18 10 25 42


See footnotes at end of table.

advam?data 9 

Table 1. Estimates of the percent of population with selected behaviors and knowledge from the 1985 National Health Interview 

Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: United States, 1985--Con. 

(Data are based on h?usehold interviews of the civilian noninstitutional ized population. The survey design, general


qualifications, and information on the reliability of the estimates are given in”technical notes. )


Diabetic Nondiabetic 

Section 

and 

itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 

number Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years 

EXERCISE--Con.


R.7c. During those (number in 7b) minutes, how fast do you think


S.3, 

S.4. 

a Derson’s heart rate and breathinq should be to strengthen


the heart and lungs? Do you think-that the heart and -


breathing rate should be-­


No faster than usual ............................................


Alittle faster than usual ......................................


Alotfaster outtalking is possible ............................


So fast that talking is not possible ............................


Don’t know ......................................................


SMOKING


Cigarette smoking status (8ased on Items S.1-3)


Never ...........................................................


Former ..........................................................


Current (Includes unknown amount smoked) ........................


Less than 15..................................................


15-24 .........................................................


25 andover ...................................................


On the average, about how many cigarettes a day do you now


smoke?7 (Current smokers)


Less than 15....................................................


15-24 ...........................................................


25 andover .....................................................


Tell me if you think cigarette smoking definitely increases,


probably increases, probably does not, or definitely does


not increase a person’s chances of getting the following


problems?


Emphysema


Increases.....................................................


Definitely increases ........................................


Probably increases ..........................................


Does notincrease .o...........................................


Probably does not increase ..................................


Definitely does not increase ................................


Don’tknow/No opinion .........................................


Bladder cancer


Increases .....................................................


Definitely increases ........................................


Probably increases ..........................................


Does not increase .............................................


Probably does not increase ..................................


Definitely does not increase ................................


Don’tknow/No opinion .........................................


Cancer of the larynx or voice box


Increases .....................................................


Definitely increases ........................................


Probably increases ..........................................


Does not increase .............................................


Probably does not increase ..................................


Definitely does not increase ................................


Don’tknow/No opinion .........................................


Cataracts


Increases .....................................................


Definitely increases ........................................


Probably increases ..........................................


Does not increase .............................................


Probably does not increase ..................................


Definitely does not increase ................................


Don't know/No opinion .........................................


Percent of population


7 5 7 9 3 3 7 

42 44 43 41 45 46 45 

18 35 19 10 35 29 12 

3; Ii 3; 4: 1: 2; 3: 

44 42 55 46 37 49 

33 :; 34 30 34 

22 :+ 28 11 :: 32 16 

8 10 10 4 9 8 6 

7 4 13 7 

7 :: 1; 2 8 :; 3 

34 37 41 27 38


34 :: 26 40 % 43 43


32 30 37 19 26 31 19


88 86 89 86 91 92 87 

72 69 75 70 73 75 71 

16 17 15 16 18 17 16 

2 4 2 2 2 2 2 

1 

: ; ; ; i ; 

1: 10 8 12 7 6 11


34 29 34 36 35 34 31 

8 16 12 12 

;: 22 19 E 24 :: 19 

19 32 18 15 25 22 14 

12 19 12 18 14 9 

; 

4; :; 4: 49 3! 4: 5: 

81 82 83 78 88 87 

52 46 56 : 

:; ;; 31 33 32 :: 30 

4 5 3 5 3 3 4 

2 3 1 3 2 2 2 

2 3 2 2 1 2 

15 12 14 17 : 10 20 

16 18 15 16 16 13 12


5 3 6 5 4 4


11 :


;: : 3: :; 43 4: 30


16 17 17 13 22 14


25 17 20 H


k; 40 51 : 42 47 k;


See footnotes at end of table.

10 

Table 1. Estimates of the percent of population with selected behaviors and knowledge from the 1985 National Health Interview


Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: United States, 1985--Con.


(Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey design, general


qualifications, and ‘informationon the reliability of the estimates are given in technical notes.)


Diabetic Nondiabetic


Section


and


itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+


number Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years


SMOKING--Con. Percent of population


S.4.	 Tell me if you think cigarette smoking definitely increases,


probably increases, probably does not, or definitely does


not increase a person’s chances of getting the following


problems?--Con.”


Cancer of the esophagus


Increases..................................................... 73 75 74 71 80 83 78 

Definitely increases........................................ 36 39 34 43 46 41 

Probably increases.......................................... 37 % 35 37 37 38 37 

Does not increase............................................. 7 11 6 6 6 6 7 

Probably does not increase.................................. 4 3 4 4 4 4 

Definitely does not increase................................ ; Oon’t know/No opinion......................................... 2; 14 2: 2: Ii 1; 1: 

Chronic bronchitis 

Increases..................................................... 80 88 80 76 87 89 86 

Definitely increases........................................ 49 46 57 53 

Probably increases.......................................... 30 :: ; 30 :; 32 33 

Ooes not increase............................................. 5 5 5 6 5 4 5 

Probably does not increase.................................. 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 

Definitely does not increase................................ 2 2 2 2 2 

Oon’tknow/No opinion......................................... 1: 7 16 18 9 : 9 

Gal1stones


Increases..................................................... 11 9 11 12 11 13 9 

Definitely increases........................................ 4 2 5 3 3 

Probably increases.......................................... 7 : : 

Does notimrease ............................................. 36 4; 3: 30 46 :: 4; 

Probably does not increase.................................. 21 12 23 

Definitely does not increase................................ ;; E 23 :: :: 

Oon’tknow/No opinion......................................... 53 :; 52 :: 43 37 47 

Lung cancer 

Increases..................................................... 89 94 90 86 95 97 94 

Definitely increases........................................ 72 75 73 $9 80 84 76 

Prubably increases.......................................... 17 19 17 17 15 13 18 

Ooes not increase............................................. 2 4 1 1 2 

Probably does not increase.................................. z ; 1 3 1 1 1 

Definitely does not increase................................ 1 1 

Don’tknow/No opinion......................................... : : i 11 ; : 4 

S.4.	 Ooes cigarette smoking during pregnancy definitely increase,


probably increase, probably not or definitely not increase


the chances of--(Persons under 45 years of age)


Miscarriage


Increases..................................................... 74 74 74 74 

Definitely increases........................................ 34 35 

Probably increases.......................................... 40 : 39 x 

Does not increase............................................. 8 8 12 12 -

Probably does not increase.................................. 4 4 9 9 

Definitely does not increase................................ 

Oon’t know/No opinion......................................... 1: 1: 1: 1: 

Stillbirth


Increases..................................................... 68 68 65 65 

Definitely increases........................................ 25 25 28 28 

Probably increases.......................................... 43 43 37 37 

Does not increase............................................. 11 11 14 14 

Probably does not increase.................................. 5 11 11 

Definitely does not increase................................ : 5 

Don’tknow/No opinion......................................... 21 21 2: 2: 

Premature birth 

Increases..................................................... 70 70 70 70 

Definitely increases........................................ 29 29 32 32 

Probably increases.......................................... 41 41 38 38 

Does not increase............................................. 9 9 12 12 

Probably does not increase.................................. 5 9 9 

Definitely does not increase................................ : 4 3 3 

Oon’tknow/No opinion......................................... 21 21 17 17 

See footnotes at end of table.

advancedaa 11 

Table 1. Estimates of the percent of population with selected behaviors and knowledge from the 1985 National Health Interview


Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: United States, 1985--Con. 

(Data are based on Pousehold interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey design, general


qualifications, and information on the reliability of the estimates are given in technical notes.)


Diabetic Mondiabetic


Section


and


itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+


number Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years


5.4. 

S.5a,


T.lc. 

T.2.


T.3.


T,6.


T.7.


TOE.


SMOKING--Con.


Does cigarette smoking during pregnancy definitely increase,


probably increase, probably not or definitely not increase


the chances of--(Persons under 45 years of age)--Con.


Low birth weight of the newborn


Imxeases .....................................................


Definitely increases........................................


Probably increases..........................................


Does not increase.............................................


Probably does not increase..................................


Definitely does not increase................................


Don’tknow/No opinion.........................................


If a woman takes birth control pills, is she more likely 

to have a stroke if she smokes than if she does not smoke? 

(Persons under 45 years of age)

More likely..................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Not likely...................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Don’t know...................................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

ALCOHOL USE


Have you had at least one drink of beer, wine or 1 quor


during thepast year?l (Yes)...................... ...............


In the past 2 weeks, on how many days did you drink any 

alcoholic beverages, such as beer, wine, or liquor?l*3 

Did not drink in past year ......................................


None............................................................


1-4 days........................................................


5-9 days........................................................


10-14 days......................................................


In the past 2 weeks, on the days that you drank alcoholic


beverage , how many drinks did you have per day, on the


average??)3


Did not drink in past year ......................................


None............................................................


1 drink.........................................................


2 drinks........................................................


3-4 drinks......................................................


5 or more drinks................................................


Drinking Index (2-week daily drinking, based on items T.1-3)7


Did not drink in past year ......................................


None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Light (.01 to .21 ounce absolute alcohol).......................


Moderate (.22 to .99 ounce absolute alcohol)....................


Heavier (1.00 ounces or more absolute alcohol)..................


Ouring the past 12 months, on how many days did you have 9 or


more drinks of any alcoholic beverage?


1 or more days........................................!......... 

5or more days..................................................


During the past 12 months, on how many days did you have 5 or


more drinks of any alcoholic beverage?l


lor more days..................................................


10or more days.................................................


During the past year, how many times did you drive when you 

had p&haps” too much to drink? 

1 time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

2or more times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Percent of population


74 74 80 80


47 47 45 45


27 27 35 35


5 7 7


3 : 5 5


2: 2; 1: 1$ 

52 52 63 63


7 7 6 6


41 41 31 31


37 62 38 26 66 73 46


63 38 62 74 34 28 55 

15 21 16 10 12 

14 29 13 10 : : 16 

2 5 2 10 

5 5 6 ; 1: 9 1; 

63 38 62 74 34 28 55


15 21 16 10 14 14 12


9 10 10 17 16 18


13 : 3 16


; 7 3 2 13 K! :


3 9 3 1 7 9 1


63 38 62 74 34 28 55 

15 21 16 10 14 12 

12 20 11 9 25 :; 16 

6 11 3 20 23 12 

4 8 ; 3 8 8 6 

4 11 4 12 18 2


3 7 3 : 7 10 1


20 2 25 33 6


i 9 i 2 13 17 3


See footnotes at end of table. 
--

12 advancedda


Table 1. Estimates of the percent of population with selected behaviors and knowledge from the 1985 National Health Interview 

Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: United States, 1985--Con. 

(Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutional ized POPU1ation. The survey design, general


qualifications, and information on the reliability of the estimates are 9iven in technical notes. )


Diabetic Nondiabetic 

Section 

and 

itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 

number Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years 

ALCOHOL USE--Con. Percent of population 

T.9.	 Tell me if you think heavy alcohol drinking definitely


increases ~ probably increases, probably does not, or definitely


does not Increase a person’s chances of getting the foilowing


problems?


Throat cancer 

Increases ..................................................... 45 36 47 48 40 38 41 44 

Definitely increases ........................................ 21 21 24 21 

Probably increases .......................................... 25 ;: 25 24 x ;: ;: 23 

Does not increase ............................................. 23 35 22 18 34 40 30 18 

Probably does not increase .................................. 15 21 15 12 23 27 20 11 

Definitely does not increase.. .............................. 8 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 32 i: 3? 3: ;: i; I 3: 

Cirrhosis of the liver


Increases ..................................................... 92 93 93 91 95 96 95 88 

Definitely increases ........................................ 78 79 82 74 79 81 80 71 

Probably increases .......................................... 14 14 11 17 15 15 15 17 

Does not increase ............................................. 2 1 0 1 1 1 

Probably does not increase .................................. : 0 1 0 h 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 0 2 0 : o ; i!l 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 7 5 i 9 5 3 4 11 

B1adder cancer 

Increases ..................................................... 65 68 67 61 67 63 

Definitely increases ........................................ 30 32 28 E 27 ;: 

Probably increases .......................................... 35 :: 36 : 39 41 37 32 

Does not increase ............................................. 8 12 8 11 13 11 7 

Probably does not increase .................................. 6 7 6 ; 8 9 8 5 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 3 5 2 3 3 3 3 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 27 20 25 32 22 17 25 3; 

Cancer of the mouth


Increases ..................................................... 40 30 40 44 32 30 34 38 

Definitely increases ........................................ 16 17 16 

Probably increases .......................................... 23 : 22 ;: ;; 2; ;; 21 

Does not increase ............................................. 22 36 22 43 32 20 

Probably does not increase .................................. 14 21 14 ;; ii 29 20 12 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 3! :: 3: 3: :? H :: 4: 

Arthritis


Increases ..................................................... 17 15 18 16 15 15 15 14 

Definitely increases ........................................ 4 7 4 4 

Probably increases .......................................... 1: 1: 1: 1: 

Ooes not increase ............................................. 35 :: 35 3: ;+ 52 :; 31 

Probably does not increase .................................. 16 20 16 15 25 29 21 14 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 23 22 23 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... :: 42 :? :; 39 33 :: & 

Blood clots


Increases ..................................................... 33 37 34 30 34 39 29 26 

Definitely increases ........................................ 12 13 11 10 11 9 8 

Probably increases .......................................... 21 24 x 19 24 28 20 18 

Does not increase ............................................. 23 29 24 20 31 33 21 

Probably does not increase .................................. 12 16 12 11 19 ;: 18 11 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 11 14 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 44 34 [ 5: ;: i; $ k; 

T.9.	 Does heavy drinking during pregnancy definitely increase,


probably increase, probably not or definitely not increase


the chances of (Persons under 45 years of age)


Miscarriage


Increases ..................................................... 82 82 86 86 

Definitely increases ........................................ 48 48 48 48 

Probably increases .......................................... 34 34 38 38 

Ooes not increase ............................................. 3 3 4 4 

Probably does not increase .................................. 2 2 3 3 

Definitely does not increase ................................ 1 1 

Don’tknow/No opinion ......................................... 16 1; 10 1; 

See footnotes at end of table.

--

--

--

--

advancedaa 13


T~ble 1. Estimates of the percent of population with selected behaviors and knowledge from the 1985 National Health Interview


Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: United States, 1985--Con.


(Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutional ized population. The survey design, general


qualifications, and information on the reliability of the estimates are given in technical notes. )


Diabetic Nondiabetic 

Section 

and 

itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 

number Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years 

ALCOHOL USE--Con.


T.9.	 Ooes heavy drinking during pregnancy definitely increase,


probably increase, probably not or definitely not increase


the chances of (Persons under 45 years of age)--Con.


Mental retardation of the newborn


Increases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitely increases ........................................


Probably increases ..........................................


Ooes not increase .............................................


Probably does not increase ..................................


Definitely does not increase ................................


Oon’tknow/No opinion .........................................


Low birth weight of the newborn


Increases .....................................................


Definitely increases ........................................


Probably increases ..........................................


Does not increase .............................................


Probably does not increase ..................................


Definitely does not increase ................................


130n’tknow/No opinion .........................................


Birth defects


Increases ...................<.................................


Definitely increases ........................................


Probably increases ..........................................


Ooes not increase .............................................


Probably does not increase ..................................


Definitely does not increase ................................


Don’tknow/No opinion .........................................


T.IO.	 Have you ever heard of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? (Persons under 

45years of age) (Yes)........................................... 

OENTAL CARE


U.1.	 This next question is about preventing tooth decay. After I 

read each of the foilowing, tell me if you think it is 

definitely important, probably important, probably not, or 

definitely not important in preventing tooth decay. 

Seeing a dentist regularly


Important .....................................................


Definitely important ........................................


Probably important ..........................................


Not important .................................................


Probably not important ......................................


Definitely not important ....................................


Don’tknow/No opinion .........................................


Drinking water with fluoride from early childhood


Important .....................................................


Definitely important ........................................


Probably important ..........................................


Not important .................................................


Probably not important ......................................


Definitely not important ....................................


Don’tknow/No opinion .........................................


Regular brushing and flossing of the teeth


Important .....................................................


Definitely important ........................................


Probably important ..........................................


Not important .................................................


Probably not important ......................................


Definitely not important ....................................


Don’tknow/No opinion .........................................


Percent of population


77 - - 84 84 - -

:: 40 - - 47 47 - -

3737--3737 

i’ 

; 4-- : ::: 

3 3--

17 17 - - 1; 1; : : 

83 - - 84 - -

!? 41 - - :: 46 - -

42 42 - - 38 38 - -

4 4--

: ::: 3 3--

1--

141;::1; 11 - -

83 83 - - 85 85 - -

44 44 - - 49 49 - -

3939--3636 

5 5-- 4 4--

54 54 - - 56 56 - -

93 95 95 91 96 92 

81 84 82 79 83 :; :: 78 

12 11 13 12 13 13 12 14 

2 3 2 3 2 2 32 

2 2 2 2 1 22 

6 0 0 0 1 

: 2 3 6 : 1 ;6 

70 81 72 62 80 85 77 63 

40 44 44 34 46 50 45 32 

30 37 28 28 34 35 32 30 

9 10 8 8 88 

; ; 6 8 6 6 5 

2 3 : 

2: 1; 1: 2: 1; 7 15 29 

0- 0 0 0 0 00 

0 0 0 0 0 00 

4 2 i 5 2 1 25 

See footnotes at end of table.

14 advam?data


Table I. Estimates of the percent of population with selected behaviors and knowledge from the 1985 National Health Interview 

Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: United States, 1985--Con. 

(Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninsti tutionalized POPU1ation. The survey design, general


qualifications, and information on the reliability of the estimates are given in technical notes. )


Diabetic Nondiabetic 

Section 

and 

itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 

number Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years 

DENTAL CARE--Con.


U.1.	 This next question is about preventing tooth decay. After I 

read each of the foilowing, tell me if you think it is 

definitely important, probably important, probably not, or 

definitely not important in preventing tooth decay .--Con. 

Using fluoride toothpaste or fluoride mouth rinse


Important .....................................................


Definitely important ........................................


Probably important ..........................................


Not important .................................................


Probably not important ......................................


Definitely not important ....................................


Don’tknow/No opinion .........................................


Avoiding between-meal sweets


Important .....................................................


Definitely important ........................................


Probably important ..........................................


Not important .................................................


Probably not important ......................................


Definitely not important ....................................


Don’tknow/No opinion .........................................


U.2.	 Now I‘m going to ask about preventing gum disease. In your 

opinion, how important or not important is each of the 

foilowing in preventing gum disease? 

Seeing a dentist regularly


Important .....................................................


Definitely important ........................................


Probably important ..........................................


Not important .................................................


Probably not important ......................................


Definitely not important ....................................


Don’tknow/No opinion .........................................


Drinking water with fluoride from early childhood


Important .....................................................


Definitely important ........................................


Probably important ..........................................


Not important .................................................


Probably not important ......................................


Definitely not important ....................................


Don’tknow/No opinion .........................................


Regular brushing and flossing of the teeth


I~ortant .....................................................


Definitely important ........................................


Probably important ..........................................


Not important .................................................


Probably not important ......................................


Definitely not important ....................................


Don’t know/No opinion .........................................


Using fluoride toothpaste or fluoride mouth rinse


Important .....................................................


Definitely important ........................................


Probably important ..........................................


Not important .................................................


Probably not important ......................................


Definitely not important ....................................


Don’t know/No opinion .........................................


Avoi ding between-meal sweets


Important .....................................................


Definitely important ........................................


Probably important ..........................................


Mot important .................................................


Probably not important ......................................


Definitely not important ....................................


Don’t know/No opinion .........................................


See footnotes at end of table.


Percent of population


84 93 87 78 90 94 87 75 

53 63 56 46 62 69 44 31 30 31 32 28 25 Y 31 2 5 6 4 3 

: 0 3 4 3 2 : : 

2 1 1 

11 5 : 1: : : 8 1; 

89 93 84 89 82 

62 61 :: 60 : :; 62 

27 32 27 25 30 30 27 :; 

4 4 5 6 7 6 7 ! 2 3 4 5 5 4 5 2 2 2 

7 3 ; 1: : ; 5 1: 

92 90 97 90 

79 :; :; 77 :; 84 :; 76 

13 11 13 13 12 12 11 14 2 1 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 

1 : : : 

5 2 ; 8 : 1 ; : 

60 66 62 54 66 71 62 53 32 33 34 31 34 37 32 27 

27 33 28 24 32 34 30 26 

13 20 11 12 16 1? 17 11 

16 7 8 12 13 12 7 

: 5 4 5 4 27 1: 26 3: 1$ 11 21 36 

93 94 91 96 91 76 E 77 73 84 ; % 75 

17 14 17 18 12 10 13 16 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 

1 1 ; : : : : : 5 7 3 2 3 8 

83 76 82 68 :; 46 44 :: E 53 ;; 39 32 36 32 30 30 29 31 29 

9 10 9 10 12 12 14 9 7 6 6 7 9 9 10 6 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 15 7 15 18 10 6 14 2: 

83 84 85 81 81 83 80 54 52 54 54 50 51 52 :: 

30 33 31 27 31 33 28 28 

10 6 6 12 12 11 : 7 4 4 9 10 8 ; 

2 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 10 6 9 13 7 5 9 15 
advamedata 15


Table 1. Estimates of the percent of population with selected behaviors and knowledge from the 1985 National Health Interview


Survey Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, by diabetic status and age: United States, 1985--Con. 

(Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninsti tutionalized population. The survey design, general


qualifications, and’information on the reliability of the estimates are given in technical notes. )


Diabetic Nondiabetic 

Section 

and 

Itern 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 

number


U.3. 

U.4, 

U.5a. 

U.5b,


V,la.


V.2a.


V.3a.


Health behaviors and knowledge years years years years years years years years


DENTAL CARE--Con.


In your opinion, which of the following is the main cause of 

tooth loss in children? 

Tooth decay .....................................................


Gum disease .....................................................


Injury to the teeth .............................................


Don’t know ......................................................


In your opinion, which of the following is the main cause of


tooth loss in adults?


Tooth decay .....................................................


Gmn disease .....................................................


Injury to the teeth.............................................


Don’t know ......................................................


Have you ever heard of dental sealants? (Yes).....................


Which of the following best describes the purpose of dental


sealants--to prevent gum disease, to prevent tooth decay, or


to hold dentures in place? (Persons who have heard of dental


sealants (yes) in U.5a.


Prevent gum disease ............................................


Prevent tooth decay ............................................


Hold dentures in place .........................................


Don’t know .....................................................


OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY ANO HEALTH


In your present job, are you exposed to any substances that


could endan er your health, such as chemicals, dusts, fumes


or gases?3 ?Currently employed persons) (Yes).....................


In your present job, are you exposed to any work conditions 

that could endanger your health, such as loud noise, extreme 

heat or CO1d, physical or mental stress , or radiation?3 

(Currently empleyed persons) (Yes)................................


In your present job are you exposed to any risks of accidents or


injuries?3 (Currently employed persons) (Yes)....................


Percent of population


61 63 60 58 56 60 62 

9 6 10 9 9 9 

23 30 25 29 3: 27 17 

8 1 5 4 2 5 12 

42 41 40 40 39 40 44 

5D 56 53 54 57 54 43 

2 2 3 2 

6 1 : 3 ; 4 1: 

15 25 18 23 25 23 14 

4 4 7 

7: 8: 6: 80 8: 81 70 

11	 7 16 12 12 10 13 

6 2 7 4 3 5 9 

34 37 35 35 37 32 17 

35 44 35 36 38 33 14 

38 44 38 40 42 36	 26 

— 

lNational Center for Health Statistics, C. A. Schoenborn, and K. M. Danchik: Health practices among adults: United states, 1977.


Advance Data From Vital and Health Statistics. No. 64. DHEW Pub. No. (PHS) 78-1250. Public Health Service. Hyattsville, Md., 

NOV. 4, 1980. 

2National Center for Health Statistics, A. J . Moss and G. Scott: cha~acte.~isti~s of persons with hypertension, United st.SteS, 1974.


Vital and Health Statistics. Series 10, No. 121. OHEW Pub. No. (PHS) 79-1549. Public Health Service. Washington. U.S.


Government Printing ffice, Dec. 1978.


3N,3tionalcenter for Health Statistics, C. A. Schoenborn, K. M. Oanchjk, and J . Elinson: 8asic data from Wave I of the National 

Survey of Personal Health Practices and Consequences, United States, 1979. Vital and Health Statistics. Series 15, No. 2. DHHS


Pub. No. (PHS) 81-1163. Public Health Service. Washington. U.S. Government Printing Off”Ice, Aug. 1981.


4Natfonal Center for Health Statistics, 8. Eloom and S. S. Jack: Persons with and without a regular source of medical care, United


States. Vital and Health Statistics. Series 10, No. 151. OHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 85-1579. Public Heal th Service. Washington. U.S.


Government Pt-l
ntlng flee, Sept. 1986.


5National Center for Health statistics, A. J . Moss and M. H. Wilder: U$e of selected medical procedures
 associated with preventive


care, United States, 1973. Vital and Health Statistics. Series 10, No. 110. DHEW Pub. No. (HRA) 77-1538. Health Resources


Admi nistration, Washington. U.S. Government Pt-l
ntlng Office, Mar. 1977.


6Natfonal center for Health Statistics, J . w. Choi : Exercise and participation in sports among persons 20 years of age and over: 

United States, 1975. Advance Oata From Vital and Health Statistics. No. 19. OHEW Pub. No. (PHS) 78-1250. Public Health ServiceHyattsville, Md., March 15, 1978.


7National Center for Health statistics: Health, United States, 1985. OHHS pub. No. (pHS) 85-1232. public Health Service.


Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, Dec. 1984.

References 

IK M. west: EPjdemjo[ogy of Diabetes and hS Vmfwkw Lesions. 

New York. Elsevier North Holland, Inc., 1978. 

2M. Ellenberg and H. Rifkin, eds.: Diabetes Mellitus: Theory and 

Practice, third ed. New Hyde Park, New York. Medical Examination 

Publishing Co., Inc., 1983. 

3A Marble et al., eds.: Joslin’s Diabetes Mel[itus, 12th ed. Philadelphia. Lea and Febiger, 1985. 

4National Institutes of Health, National Diabetes Data Group, 

M. I. Harris and R. F. Hamman, eds.: Diabetes in America. NIH 

Pub. No. 85–1468. Public Health Service. Washington. U.S. GovernmentPrinting Office, Aug. 1985. 

5L R Krall, ed.: Josljn Djabetes Manual, 11th ed. Philadelphia. . . 

Lea and Febiger, 1978. 

6National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: 

Noninsulin-Dependent Diabetes. NIH Pub. No. 87–241. Public 

Health Service. Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, Mar. 

1987. 

‘National Center for Health Statistics, T. F. Drury, M. Harris, and 

L. E. Lipsett: Prevalence and management of diabetes. Health, United 

States, 1981. DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 82-1232. Public Health Service. 

Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, Dec. 1981. 

‘O . T . Thomberry, R. W. Wilson, and P. M. Golden: The 1985 

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Survey, Public Health 

Rep. 101(6):566-570, Nov.–Dee. 1986. 

9National Center for Health Statistics, O. T. Thomberry, R. W. 

Wilson, and P. M. Golden: Health promotion data for the 1990 

objectives, estimates from the National Health Interview Survey 

of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, United States, 1985. 

Advance Data From Vital and Health Statistics. No. 126. DHHS 

Pub. No. (PHS) 86-1250. Public Health Service. Hyattsville, Md., 

Sept. 19, 1986. 

Ioc A. Schoenbom: Health habits of U.S. adults: The ‘Alameda 

7’ revisited. Public Health Rep. 101(6):571-580, Nov.–Dee., 1986. 

IIR E. Hoffman: Tracking 1990 objectives for injwy prevention 

with 1985 NHIS findings. Public Health Rep. 101(6):581–586, Nov.– 

Dec., 1986. 

12c J ca5Per5en, G. M. Christenson, and R. A. pollard: Status . . 

of the 1990 physical fitness and exercise objectives-evidence from 

NHIS 1985. Public Health Rep. 101(6):587–592, Nov. -Dee., 1986. 

13G D Williams, M, Dufour, and D. Bertolucci: Drinking Ievels! . . 

knowledge, and associated characteristics, 1985 NHIS findings. Pub­

/icHeakh Rep. 101(6):593–598, Nov.–Dee., 1986. 

14E . J . Rocce]]a, A. E. Bowler M. V. Ames, and M. J. Horan: , 

Hypertension knowledge, attitudes, and behavioc 1985 NHLS findings. Public Health Rep. 101(6):599-606, Nov.–Dee., 1986. 

15S Shilling and R. Bra&&]l: occupational health and safetY risks 

and potential health consequences perceived by U.S. workers, 1985. 

Public Health Rep. 102( 1):3&46, Jan.-Feb., 1987. 

l~M. M . Silveman, A. Elch]er, and G. D. WiI]iams: Self-reported 

stress: findings from the 1985 National Health Interview Survey. 

Public Health Rep. 102(1 ):47-53, Jan.-Feb., 1987. 

17s B. Corbin, w, R. Maas, D. V. Kleinman, and C. L. Backinge~ 

1985 NHIS findings on public knowledge and attitudes about oral 

diseases and preventive measures. Public Health Rep. 102( 1):53-60, 

Jan.-Feb., 1987. 

lsM G Stephenson, A. S. Levy, N. L. Sass, and W. E. McGarvey: . . 

1985 NHIS findings: nutrition knowledge and baseline data for the 

weight-loss objectives. Public Health Rep. 102( 1):6 1-67, Jan .-Feb., 

1987. 

19D R Shopland and c. Brown: Toward the 1990 objcctiws for . . 

smoking: measuring the progress with 1985 NHIS data. Public Health


Rep. 102( I):68–73, Jan.–Feb., 1987.


20S. H. Fox, C. Brown, A. M. Koontz, and S. S. Kesscl: Pcrccptions


of risks of smoking and heavy drinking during pregnancy: 1985


NHIS findings. Public Health Rep. 102(1):73-79, Jan.–Feb., 1987.


21National Diabetes Data Group: Classification and diagnosis of dia­


betes melIitus and other categories of glucose intolerance. Diabe/es


28(12):1039–1057, Dec. 1979.


22M Hamis. The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, undiagnosed


diabetes, and impaired glucose tolerance in the United States, in


J. S. Melish, J. Hanna, and S. Baba, eds., Genetic Envircmmetmd


Interaction in Diabetes Mellitus. Amsterdam, Excerpts Medics, 1981.


23D B Mafiin and A R. Quint: Therapy fOr diabetes. in National
 . . 

Institutes of Health, National Diabetes Data Group, M. 1. Harris 

and R. F. Hamman, eds., Diabetes in America. NIH Pub. No. 

85–1468. Washington. U.S. Government Printing Office, Aug. 1985. 

2~. F. Drury, K. M. Danchik, and M. 1. Harris: Sociodcmographic 

characteristics of adult diabetics, in National Institutes of Health, 

National Diabetes Data Group, M. 1. Harris and R. F. Hammm, 

eds., Diabetes in America. NIH Pub. No. 85-1468. Washington. 

U.S. Government Printing Office, Aug. 1985. 

2SAmerican college of SpOrtS Medicine, S. N. Blair, L. W. Gibbons, 

P. Painter et al.: Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 

third ed. Philadelphia. Lea and Febiger, 1986. 

ZGE. A . Richter and H. Galba Djabetes, insulin and eXerCiSe. sp(~rfs 

Medicine 3:275–288, 1986. 

27N B. Ruderman and S. Schneide~ Exercise and the insulin-depcndent dialxtic. Hosp. Pratt. 21(5A):41–51, May 30, 1986. 

zss . J . Coram and M. Mangum: Exercise risks and benefits for 

diabetic individuals: a review. Adapted Phys. Activity Q. 3:35–57, 

1986. 

.29J. T . Devlin and E. S. Horton: An excrcisc regimen fOr diabetics. 

Cardiovasc. Medicine 10(1):65–71, 1985. 

3oJ. R . Sutton: Metabolic responses to exercise in normal and diabetic 

individuals, in R. H. Strauss, ed., Sports Medicine. Philadelphia. 

W. B. Saunders Company, 1984. 

31L. N. Cunningham: The adult diabetic and exercise, in R. C. 

Cantu, ed., The Exercising Adult. Lexington, Massachusetts. The 

Collamore Press, 1982. 

3*J O. Holloszy: Exercise, diabetes and glucose utilization. Tutorial 

lecture presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the American College 

of Sports Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 29, 1987. Available 

on cassette (#87ACSM–E 11) from Mobil tape Company, Inc., 1741 

Gardena Avenue, Glendale,CA91204 (telephone (8 18) 244-8 122). 

ssNational Institutes of Health, Office of Medical Applications ‘f 

Research: Diet and exercise in noninsulin-dependent diabcks reellitus. Consensus Development Conference Statement 6(8): 1–7, Dec. 

10, 1986. 
---

advancedda 17


~~Nutionfll Center for Health Statistics, A. Moss: Current estimates 

from the National Health Interview Survey, United States, 1985. 

Vikd and Health Sratis?ic.r. Series 10, No. 160. DHHS Pub. No. 

(PHS) X&l 588. Public Health Service. Washington. U.S. GovernmentPrinting Office, Sept. 1986. 

350tTice of the Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General: 

Healthy People—The Surgeon General’s Report on Health Promotion 

und Disease Prevention—Background Papers, 1979. DHEW Pub. 

No. (PHS) 79-55071A. 

%-J.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health 

Service: Promoting HealthlPreventing Disease: Objectives for the 

iVarion.Washington, U.S, Government Printing Office, 1980. 

37T F pechace~, B. H, Fox, D. M. Murray, and R. V. J-uepke~ ,, 

Review of techniques for measurement of smoking behavior, in 

J. D. Matarwzo et al., eds., Behavioral Health: A Handbook of 

Heldth Enhancetnent and Disease Prevention. New York. John Wiley 

& Sons, 1984, 

3SG. D. Williams, S. S. Aitken, and H. Malin: Reliability of seifreported alcohol consumption in a general population survey. ./. 

Stud. Alcohol 46:223–227,1985. 

39A w stewafi, R, T. Jackson, M. A. Ford, and R. Beaglehole: . . 

Underestimation of relative weight by use of self-reported height 

andweight. Am. J. Epidemiol. 125(1):122–126,1987. 

‘R . E . LaPorte, H. J. Montoye, and C. J. Caspersen: Assessment 

of physical activity in epidemiologic research, problems and prospects. Public Health Rep. 100(2): 131–146, Mar.–Apr. 1985. 

41B. s. Dohrenwend and B. P. Dohrenwend, eds.: stressful .Life 

Events and Their Contexts. New York. Prodist, 1981. 

42G BIock: A review of validations of dietary assessment methods. 

Am;J. Epidemiol. 115:492–505, 1982. 

Symbols 

Data not available 

. . . Category not applicable 

Quantity zero 

0.0	 Quantity more than zero but less than 

0.05 

z	 Quantity more than zero but less than 

500 where numbers are rounded to 

thousands 

* Figure does not meet standards of 

reliability or precision 

#	 Figure suppressed to comply with 

confidentiality requirements 

Technical notes 

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a continuous, moss-sectional nationwide survey conducted by household 

interview. Each week a probability sample of households in 

the civilian noninstitutionalized population is interviewed by 

personnel of the U.S. Bureau of the Census to obtain information on the health and other characteristics of each member 

of the household. The 1985 NHIS sample consisted of 36,399 

eligible households. The total noninterview rate for the basic 

heohh and demographic household questionnaire was about 

4 percent—about 2–3 percent of which was due to respondent 

refusal and the remainder primarily due to an inability to 

locate art eligible respondent at home after repeated calls. 

A more detailed description of the survey design, methods 

used in estimation, and general qualifications of the NHIS 

data is provided in Current Estimates From rhe National Health 

Inter\*ie~t’Survey, 1985.34 

Objectives and sponsorship of the 1985 

NHIS Health Promotion and Disease 

Prevention study 

The 1985 NHIS Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 

(HPDP) study was designed to monitor progress toward one 

of the major initiatives of the Department of Health and Human 

Services. This initiative was described in Healthy People—The 

Surgeon General’s Report on Health Promotion and Disease 

Prevention, 1979.35 In that report, broad goals were established 

for the improvement of the health of Americans. The 1980 

Public Health Service report, Promoting Health/Preventing 

Disease: Objectives for the Nation, 36 detailed specific objectives necessary for attaining those goals in each of 15 priority 

areas. Because the target date for achieving those objectives 

is 1990, current data collection plans call for readministering 

the 1985 HPDP questionnaire in 1990 for the purpose of 

monitoring progress achieved in the intervening 5 years. 

The planning and development of the questionnaire used 
18 advmcedata


in the 1985 HPDP study was carried out in collaboration 

with the following Federal agencies, some of which also provided partial funding for the study: 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health 

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion 

Office on Smoking and Health 

Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration 

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 

National Institutes of Health 

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 

National Cancer Institute 

National Institute of Dental Research 

National Institute of Child Health and Human 

Development 

Health Resources and Services Administration 

Centers for Disease Control 

Center for Prevention Services 

Center for Infectious Diseases 

Center for Environmental Health 

Center for Health Promotion and Education 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

Food and Drug Administration 

Bureau of Foods 

Department of Transportation 

Office of Driver and Pedestrian Research 

The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports 

HPDP questionnaire content and 

administration 

The 1985 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention study 

was devoted primarily to the collection of baseline data on 

the following topics: general health habits (including nutrition), 

injury control and child safety and health, high blood pressure, 

stress, exercise, smoking, alcohol use, dental care, and occupational safety and health. These topics were selected after consultation with the Office of Disease Prevention and Health 

Promotion (Assistant Secretary for Health) as well as with 

the agencies designated by the Assistant Secretary for Health 

as having “lead” responsibility for implementing and monitoring progress toward achieving the 1990 objectives. Within 

each agency, subject matter experts were consulted during 

the development of the questionnaire. 

Self-response was required for the Health Promotion and 

Disease Prevention questionnaire, and one adult per family 

was selected randomly as the respondent. This procedure resulted in an additional nonresponse of about 7 percent. The 

number of completed Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 

questionnaires was 33,630, representing an estimated 90 percent of eligible respondents. 

Populations used in the computation of 

percents shown in this report 

The estimated population for each of the age categories 

of diabetics and nondiabetics used as a denominator for one 

of the percents or more discussed in this report is shown 

in table 1. This information allows readers to derive estimates 

of the number of persons in the United States with a given 

characteristic by diabetic status and age. 

Reliability of estimates 

Because the estimates shown in the text table are based 

on a sample of the population rather than on the entire population, they are subject to sampling error. Some estimates in 

the table are small for given characteristics. When an estimtite 

or the numerator or denominator used in the computation 

of a percent is small, the sampling error may be relatively 

high. Approximate standard errors for estimates in this report 

are shown in table H. 

Nonsampling errors 

The data presented in this report are also subject to a 

variety of nonsampling errors, some of which represent random 

measurement error; others, more systematic error. In recent 

years, a number of review articles have appeared codifying 

the current state of knowledge about these kinds of errors 

in the study of selected health-related behaviors and characteristics, including smoking,37 alcohol use,sg reported height 

and weight,~y exercise behaviors,40 reports of stress.41 and 

dietary pattems.42 

Table 1. Estimates of selected civilian noninstitutionalized populations by diabetic status and age United States, 1985 

Diabetic Nond/abetic 

18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 18-44 45-64 65+ 

Selected population years years years years years years years years 

Population in thousands 

Total adult population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,144 1,036 2,560 2,526 161,569 96,765 40,994 23,630 

Females . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,385 523 1,377 1,465 65,251 49,688 21,464 14,099 

Population in families with children under 10 years of age . . . . . . ‘ 621 509 236 74 44,166 40,641 3,161 364 

Population in families with children under 5 years of age . . . . . . . . . 503 301 154 46 26,694 27,195 1.536 161 

Currently employed population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,212 767 1,204 241 103,330 73,525 26,848 2,957 
advancdata 19


Tabls Il. Standard errors, expressed in percentage points, of estimated percents by diabetic statua and age National Health Interview Survey 

Questionnaire on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, United States, 19s5 

Diabetic Norrdiabetic 

18+ 16-44 45-64 65+ 18+ 16-44 45-64 65+ 

Estimated percent years years years years years years years years 

Standard error in percentage points 

5or95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.69 1.67 1.07 1.07 0.13 0.17 0.27 0.35 

100r90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.95 2.30 1.47 1.47 0.18 0.24 0.37 0.48 

150r85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.13 2.74 1.75 1.75 0.22 0.28 0.44 0.57 

200r80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.26 3.07 1.96 1.97 0.25 0.32 0.49 0.84 

250r75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.36 3.32 2.12 2.13 0.27 0.34 0.53 0.69 

300r70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.44 3.52 2.24 2.25 0.28 0.36 0.56 0.73 

350r65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.50 3.66 2.33 2.34 0.29 0.36 0.58 0.76 

400r60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.54 3.76 2.40 2.41 0.30 0.39 0.80 0.78 

450r55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.57 3.82 2.43 2.44 0.31 0.40 0.61 0.80 

60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.58 3.84 2.45 2.46 0.31 0.40 0.61 0.80 
20 advancedda 

Recent Issues of Advance Data From Vital and Health Statistics 

No. 140. Recent Trends in Hospitalization: 1982-86 Data From 

the National Health Interview Survey and the National Hospital 

Discharge Survey (Issue date forthcoming) 

No. 139. Health Care Coverage by Age, Sex, Race, and Family 

Income: United States, 1986 (Issued September 18, 1987) 

No. 138. Highlights of Osteopathic Office Practice: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1985 (Issued September 18, 1987) 

Suggested citation 

National Center for Health Statistics, T. F. Drury and 

1. 1. Shannon: Health practices and perceptions of U.S. 

adults with noninsulin-dependent diabetes, Data from 

the 1985 National Health Intetview Survey of Health 

Promotion and DLsease Prevention. Advance Data From 

Vita/ and Health Statistics. No. i 41. DHHS Pub. No. 

(PHS) 87-1250. Public Health Service. Hvaftsville. Md., 

Sept.” 23, 1987. 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Pubtic Health Service 

National Center for Health Statistics 

3700 East-West Highway


Hyattsville, Maryland 20782


OFFICIAL BUSINESS


PENALTV FOR PRIVATE USE, $300


To receive this publication regularly, contact


the National Center for Health Statistics by


calling 301 436+3500


DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 87-1250


No. 137. Diagnosis-Related Groups Using Data From the National 

Hospital Discharge Survey: United States, 1985 (Issued July 2, 1987) 

No. 136. Aging in the Eighties: Ability to Perform Work-Related 

Activities (Issued May 8, 1987) 

Copyright Inforrnstion 

This report may be reprinted without further 

permission. 

kEEl