Rheumatism Study (Panel 1985-1987)

Topics: in the three-wave panel survey similar survey questionnaires were used: information on manner and extent of doctor consultations; means of transport used on visit to the doctor, trip to pharmacy and physiotherapy; information on stationary hospital stays as well as about operations and successive treatments; personal share in treatment costs; sick days; number of house visits by doctor; type and number of therapies received in the last year; judgement on the success of the therapies; participation in courses on coping with pain; model services taken advantage of; personal exercise practice; physical measures and practice of sport and gymnastics; diet due to rheumatism; information on course, methods and side effects of base therapy; cortison medications administered; other medication and self-treatment; measures to cope with pain; orthopedic and ergotheraputic aids used; use of splints; structural changes in household and at work as well as personal share of costs; resorting to alternative medicine treatment; applications for aid and services received from public agencies or social insurance; regular help from churches, community or government offices; help from social surroundings; type of health insurance company; identification as seriously handicapped; degree of disability; pension payment due to rheumatic disease; move in the last year; residential status; number of rooms and floor of residence; entrance suitable for the handicapped; size of circle of friends; extent of social contacts; membership in the Rheumatism League; other memberships; occupational changes in the last year and expected development of occupational future.

Form to be filled out: classification of degree of disability by means of information on activities one can take care of independently or can no longer be conducted (scale); self-classification of current pain burden on a scale; characterization of type and effects of pain; psychological self-characterization (Affect Balance Scale of Badura, Beck Depression Inventory STAT - x2). In the first wave the following additional questions were posed: time of start of rheumatism complaints; immediate visit to the doctor after start of complaints; treatment in rheumatism out-patient care and utilization of offerings of the Rheumatism League.