Table 1 Description of the dependent and independent variables
Dependent variables | |||
Variable | Instrument/question | Response options | Use in the analysis |
Self-rated health | SF 36. Item 1. How do you rate your health? | Poor health = 1 Fair = 2 Good = 3 Very good = 4 Excellent = 5 | Continuous |
Self-rated health | SF 36. Item 1. How do you rate your health? | Poor health = 1 Fair = 2 Good = 3 Very good = 4 Excellent = 5 | Dichotomized Poor = 0 (fair, poor) Good = 1 (good, very good, excellent) |
Independent variable | |||
Variable | Instrument/question | Response options | Use in the analysis |
Demographics | |||
Age | What is your birth date? | Years | Continuous |
Gender | Which gender are you? | Male = 0 Female = 1 | Dichotomous |
Education | Which education do you have? | ≤7 years elementary school Middle school Secondary school High school Folk high school Craftsman education Trade school University Other | Dichotomized No college = 0 (≤7 years, elementary school, middle school, secondary school, high school, folk high school, craftsman education, other) College = 1 (trade school, high school, university) |
Municipality | In which municipality you live? | Large municipality =1 Medium municipality = 3 Small village =2 | Categorical |
Marital status | What is your marital status? | Married Cohabitant Alone Divorced Widow(er) | Dichotomized Single = 0 (alone, divorced, widow/er) Partner = 1 (married, cohabitant) |
Living alone | Do you live alone? | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
Residential | Is the residential: | Hired = 0 Owned/Private = 1 | Dichotomous |
Improvements in house | Is it necessary to do improvement in your house? | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
Lifestyle | |||
Social support | OSLO 3 – SSS | Continuous | |
1. How many people are standing so close that you can count on them if you have big personal problems | No one (1 p) 1 to 2 (2 p) 3 to 5 (3 p) 6 or more (4 p) | ||
2. How interested are people for what you do? | No participation or interest (1p) Little participation and interest (2p) Unsure (3 p) Some participation and interest (4 p) Great participation and interest (5 p) | ||
3. How easy is it to get practical help from neighbours if you need it? | Very difficult (1p) Difficult (p) Possible (3p) Ease (4p) Very easy (5 p) 3–8 p = Lack of support 9–11 p = Some support 12–14 p = Much support | ||
Exercise | How often do you exercise? (minimum 30 min duration so that you are warm and slightly out of breath) | Rare = 1 1–3 times a month = 2 1–3 times a week = 3 4–6 times a week = 4 Daily = 5 | Continuous |
Smoking | Do you smoke? | Yes No No, but smoked earlier | Dichotomized Smoking = 0 No smoking = 1 (no; no, but smoked earlier) |
Use alcohol | Do you use alcohol? | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
External activities | How often are you away from home? | Rare = 1 1–3 times a week = 2 4–6 times a week = 3 Daily = 4 Several times a day = 5 | Continuous |
Have mobile phone | Do you have a mobile phone? | No = 0 Yes = 1 | Dichotomous |
Use Internet | Do you use Internet? | No = 0 Yes = 1 | Dichotomous |
Have a hobby | Do you have a hobby? | No = 0 Yes = 1 | Dichotomous |
Participate in a club/social organized activity | How often do you participate in a club/social organized activity? | Never = 1 Seldom = 2 1–3 a month = 3 1–3 a week = 4 4–6 a week = 5 Daily = 6 | Continuous |
Health conditions | |||
Vision (Two different question used in different questionnaire) | How would you describe you vision? Downton fall risk index (only visions impairment) | Visually impaired Reduced Somewhat impaired Good Excellent If the person has vision impairment, drew a circle around 1. | Dichotomized Reduced = 0 (somewhat impaired, reduced, visually impaired) Good = 1 (excellent and good) |
Hearing | How would you describe you hearing? | Hearing impaired = 1 Reduced = 2 Somewhat impaired = 3 Good = 4 Excellent = 5 | Continuous |
Sleep problems | Do you have sleep problems? | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
Pain | Do you have pain? | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
Life orientation | a. Are you satisfied with your life? b. Do you feel someone need you? c. Do you have plans for the future? d. Do you have zest for life? e. Do you feel lonely? f. Do you feel depressed/sad | a. - d: Yes/No e. – f: Rarely or never/sometimes/often or always “Yes” rated at questions a – d and “Rarely or never” at questions e and f = Positive life orientation | Dichotomous Negative = 0 Positive = 1 |
Home care service | Do you have public help at home? | No Home Care Home help Food delivery Drugs or medications | Dichotomized Yes = 0 (home care/home help/food delivery/drugs or medications) No = 1 (no) |
Limited by disease | Does the disease affect you in everyday life? | Completely = 1 Very much = 2 Often = 3 Sometimes = 4 Not at all = 5 | Continuous |
Medical diagnoses | |||
Stroke | Have you had a stroke? | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
Heart failure | Do you have heart failure | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
COPD | Do you have COPD | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
Cancer | Do you have cancer | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
Depression | Do you have depression? | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
Anxiety | Do you have anxiety? | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
Osteoporosis | Do you have osteoporosis? | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |
Arthrosis | Do you have arthroses? | Yes = 0 No = 1 | Dichotomous |