Disability measurements: impact on research results

Type of definitionDescription/SourceOriginal estimate of prevalenceEstimated prevalence¹(LCD)N (LCD)SubjectiveSelf-reported disability (Labour Force Survey)15²161,197AdministrativeReceivers of disability benefits (Norway)15³15⁴940FunctionalWashington GroupDefinition according to UN Washington Group of Disability Statistics15⁵10742ActivityDefinition according to WHOs classification system (ICF): Activity limitations10⁶11859ParticipationDefinition according to WHOs classification system (ICF): Participation restrictions9⁶10748AUSDefinition according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS): Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers20⁷181,386US-SIPPDefinition according to US Census Bureau, The Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)18⁸191,416Notes:
¹Estimation method, number classified as disabled divided by the LCD screening population (N = 7,632).²Norwegian estimate, Norwegian LFS 2007, aged 15–66 (Olsen andThi Van 2007).³Norwegian estimate, Official statistics from 2007, aged 20–67 (The National Insurance in Norway).⁴Estimate from LCD screening, with a higher number of cases (N = 1114) than in the main survey.⁵Zambian estimate, Zambian survey of living conditions 2006, all ages (Loeb et al. 2008).⁶Norwegian estimate, Living Conditions Survey 2002, aged 18–66 (Ramm 2006).⁷Australian estimate, ABS survey (SDAC) 2003, all ages (ABS 2004).⁸American (US) estimate, SIPP 2002, aged 15 and older (Steinmetz 2006).

Subj.Adm.WGAct.Part.AUSUS-SIPPGender Female58.758.860.562.263.9³57.858.5Age Mean49.6550.7249.0847.5347.8248.3348.32 Std. Deviation11.9911.6312.2812.5111.8512.4812.52Marital status Married55.8⁴53.852.650.950.751.852.6Type of impairment Sensory difficulties10.39.710.99.57.911.8⁵11.6 Breathe difficulties5.45.24.64.74.54.85.9 Chronic pain22.6¹18.614.414.317.618.918.2 Mobility difficulties33.732.736.134.539.2²35.334.3 Mental health difficulties9.19.511.718.3¹12.011.013.1 Head injuries7.5⁶7.47.46.65.27.16.8 Learning or cognitive difficulties8.810.313.3³12.113.29.49.3 Other impairment2.66.6¹1.500.31.61.0 Total100100100100100100100Impairment acquired Congenital or before age 2129.329.229.932.932.030.630.6Severity of disability Severe disability41.039.046.950.353.7²38.438.1N(1197)(940)(742)(859)(748)(1386)(1416)Notes:
¹Significant different from all other measurements scores (p<.05).²Significant different from the measurements with the 5 lowest scores (p<.05).³Significant different from the measurements with the 4 lowest scores (p<.05).⁴Significant different from the measurements with the 3 lowest scores (p<.05).⁵Significant different from the measurements with the 2 lowest scores (p<.05).⁶Significant different from the measurement with the lowest score (p<.05).

Subj.Adm.WGAct.Part.AUSUS-SIPPEducational level Higher education22.419.022.8³22.622.622.022.2Labour market participation Participating43.132.237.541.741.346.855.8¹Annual income >NOK200,00059.1²53.354.354.254.858.057.9N(1197)(940)(742)(859)(748)(1386)(1416)Notes:
¹Significant different from all the other measurements scores (p<.05).²Significant different from the measurements with the 4 lowest scores (p<.05).³Significant different from the measurements with the lowest score (p<.05).

Subj.Adm.WGUS-SIPPOdds Ratio (OR)Odds Ratio (OR)Odds Ratio (OR)Odds Ratio (OR)Gender (man=1;woman=2)0.626*0.8030.8920.660*Age (5 groups)0.600**0.627**0.568**0.591**Marital status (single=reference) Married1.1241.3831.3541.176 Widow/widower, judicially separated, divorced0.9271.4621.0460.956Educational level (compulsory school=reference) Upper secondary school1.889**2.164**2.115**2.235** Higher education (high school/university degree)4.803**4.618**4.272**4.211**Type of impairment (sensory difficulties=reference) Breathe difficulties1.0960.8470.8020.965 Chronic pain1.633*1.5120.9761.134 Mobility difficulties1.0310.9140.8280.899 Mental health difficulties0.475*0.437*0.5190.558* Head injuries1.1421.5631.0771.040 Learning or cognitive difficulties0.6390.9340.6910.542*Other impairment1.2542.0792.0740.243*Severity of disability (to some extent=reference) Severe disability0.430**0.325**0.395**0.425**Impairment acquired (congenital or before age 21=reference) Age 21 or older1.3281.1171.4261.431**p<.05, **p<.01.

Subj.Adm.WGUS-SIPPββββGender (man=1; woman=2)−.184**−.169**−.136**−.184**Age.068*.044.074.079*Marital status (not married=1; married=2)−.053−.024−.112*−.063*Educational level (3 levels).248**.279**.239**.231**Labour force participation (not employed=1; employed=2).313**.277**.290**.318**Severity of impairment (some extent=1, severe=2).009.021.020.031Impairment acquired (congenital or before 21=1; +21=2).029.014.082.045R².227.205.192.221*p<.05, **p<.01.

QuestionSubj.AdmWGAct.Part.AUSUS-SIPPHave a long-standing illness or disability?•Receive basic benefit?•Receive supplementary benefit?•Receive disability pension?•Receive time-limited disability benefit?•Difficulties seeing/loss of sight?••••Difficulties hearing/loss of hearing?••••Difficulties speaking?••Difficulties getting in contact with others or talking to other people?•Difficulties climbing stairs?•••Difficulties gripping or holding objects?••Incomplete use of feet or legs?•Incomplete use of feet of arms or fingers?•Disfigurement or deformity?•Breathing difficulties?•Head injury/stroke or brain damage?•Blackouts, fits or loss of consciousness?•Difficulties remembering or concentrating?•••Difficulties to learn or understand?••Difficulties to walk for five minutes?••Difficulties to carry an object of five kilos?•Use of any aid moving indoors or outdoors?•Feeling anxiety?••Feeling depressed?••Having other mental difficulties?•Treatment for nerves or an emotional condition?•Mental illness requiring help or supervision?•Any long-standing psychological or emotional difficulty?•Any other long-term condition resulting in a restriction?•Difficulties being in physical activity or do physical work?••Difficulties participating in leisure activities?•Difficulties with participation in organizations or associations?•Difficulties with travelling with public transport?•Difficulties getting in or out of the building you live in?•Difficulties to managing money and bills?•