WLS Codebooks
Note: Codebooks contain frequency data from the private data release. For some variables, these differ from the frequencies in the public release. Variables that differ between the public and private versions include "(not available on public release)" as part of the variable description, or a note indicating the difference between the public and private versions.
In Person: Newest Vital Sign (NVS) Health Literacy Assessment
KNVS Newest Vital Sign (NVS) Health Literacy Assessment Module
OVERVIEW
The Newest Vital Sign (NVS) Health Literacy Assessment Module is new to the
2011 collection wave. At its core is a health literacy assessment tool known as
the "Newest Vital Sign (NVS)." Designed to gauge patients' ability to correctly
parse and react to health information, NVS is premised on the notion that
inadequate comprehension of such information is associated with inability to
properly follow medical guidelines and, by corollary, increased likelihood of
health problems. The assessment, which is untimed and typically takes
approximately three minutes to administer, involves having patients orally
answer up to six questions about the information encoded within an ice cream
container's nutrition label (the 6th question is only asked if the 5th question
is answered correctly). Based on patients' responses, a health literacy score
is computed as the sum of their correct answers to all asked questions. It is
recommended that scores be interpreted as follows:
NVS Score Interpretation
0-1 Suggests high likelihood (50% or more) of limited
health literacy.
2-3 Indicates the possibility of limited health
literacy.
4-6 Almost always indicates adequate health literacy.
Within the context of the CAPI interview, the NVS assessment was administered
to participants just as it would have been if they were visiting a doctor's
office: participants were handed the standard ice cream nutrition label and
asked all applicable NVS questions in sequence. A health literacy score was
computed for all participants who completed the assessment without refusing any
individual NVS questions. To see the ice cream nutrition label that
participants were instructed to refer to when completing the NVS assessment,
please access the following link and navigate to page 5:
http://www.pfizerhealthliteracy.com/asset/pdf/NVS_Eng/files/nvs_flipbook_english_final.pdf.
For more general information about health literacy and Newest Vital Sign, see
www.pfizerhealthliteracy.com.
BRIEF VARIABLE DESCRIPTIONS
Variable ranges reference dataset/codebook order and are not necessarily
alphabetical.
_____________________________________________________________________
KNVSSTAT-KNVSREL: Module-Level Status Variables
KI701RE: Random 40% Sub-Sampling Flag Dictating
Whether NVS Assessment Administered to
Participant
KI702RE: Flag for Outcome of NVS Health Literacy
Assessment
KI790RE: Number of Asked Questions Not Attempted if
Participant Completed the NVS Assessment
Without Refusing Any Asked Questions
KI709RE: NVS Health Literacy Score: Assessment
Completed and All Asked Questions
Attempted Without Any Refusals
KI710RE: NVS Health Literacy Score: Assessment
Completed Without Any Refusals
KI703RE-KI708RE: Indicators for Whether Each of the Six NVS
Questions Were Answered Correctly
knvsstat: Was the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) Health Literacy Assessment Module completed by Participant alone, with help, or by proxy?
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: y_nvsflag, y_nvsproxy1, y_nvshelp0, capiproxy, y_proxy, y_ivwloc
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -2 | 976 | 1074 | 2050 | |
| 1 | R COMPLETED ALONE | 549 | 641 | 1190 |
| 2 | R COMPLETED ALONE WITH SOMEONE ELSE IN THE ROOM | 75 | 24 | 99 |
| 3 | R RECEIVED A LITTLE HELP | 10 | 6 | 16 |
| 4 | R RECEIVED A LOT OF HELP | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 5 | HELPER RESPONDED TO ALL ITEMS | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Note: For many cases a participant's spouse or other family member was present during the interview. This sometimes resulted in the participant relying on the other person for help in answering some or many of the questions. At the end of each module the interviewer indicated the amount of help the participant received and who provided that help. That assessment is covered by codes 1 through 5. Additionally, a code of 7 indicates that the entire interview was administered to a proxy while a code of 6 indicates that this particular module was answered by a proxy but other modules were answered by the participant.
knvsrel: Relationship of Newest Vital Sign (NVS) Health Literacy Assessment Module helper or proxy to Participant.
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: knvsstat, y_nvsproxy1, y_nvshelp0, y_nvshelp1, y_nvshelp2_hfn, y_nvshelp3, y_h1fn-y_h4fn, y_pfn, prxyfnam, y_p1fn-y_p5fn, y_prel, prxyrel, y_p1rel-y_p5rel
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -2 | 1600 | 1739 | 3339 | |
| 0 | SPOUSE | 14 | 5 | 19 |
| 8 | DAUGHTER | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 41 | ROMANTIC PARTNER | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Note: If this module was administered via proxy or if the participant received help answering the questions in this module then we record the relationship of the proxy/helper to the participant. Although most participants relied on only one helper or proxy for the interview, some had more than one. Thus the value of the relationship code may vary across the modules.
ki701re: Summary of whether Participant belonged to the 40% sub-sample randomly selected to complete the NVS Health Literacy Assessment.
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: y_nvsflag
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| 1 | IN 40% RANDOM SAMPLE | 653 | 694 | 1347 |
| 2 | NOT IN 40% RANDOM SAMPLE | 976 | 1074 | 2050 |
ki702re: Flag for outcome of the NVS Health Literacy Assessment.
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: ki701re, y_NVSintro, y_NVS1, y_NVS2, y_NVS3, y_NVS4, y_NVS5b, y_NVS5c
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -2 | 976 | 1074 | 2050 | |
| 1 | COMPLETED, ATTEMPTED TO ANSWER ALL ASKED QUESTIONS | 502 | 491 | 993 |
| 2 | COMPLETED, DID NOT ATTEMPT TO ANSWER ALL ASKED QUESTIONS (BUT NEVER REFUSED) | 120 | 163 | 283 |
| 3 | COMPLETED, REFUSED TO ANSWER ONE OR MORE ASKED QUESTIONS | 10 | 11 | 21 |
| 4 | NOT ADMINISTERED/DOCUMENTED CORRECTLY OR AT ALL | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 5 | PARTICIPANT COULD NOT SEE WELL ENOUGH TO BE ASSESSED | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | PARTICIPANT REFUSED ASSESSMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY | 4 | 5 | 9 |
Note: The participant was considered to have completed the NVS Health Literacy Assessment if they legitimately responded to all asked NVS questions with any of the following: a correct or incorrect answer; a refusal of the question; or an indication that they "don't know" with no attempt to guess the answer. If an NVS question that should have been asked was not or we have no record of the participant's response to one or more asked questions, the assessment was deemed to have been administered or documented incorrectly and this variable has been assigned a value of "4." If the participant was unable to see well enough to read the ice cream container nutrition label provided to them as part of the NVS assessment, it was not administered and this variable has been assigned a value of "5."
Note: Participants were only asked all six NVS questions if they answered question #5 correctly; those who did not answer question #5 correctly skipped question #6 (resulting in them being asked a total of five questions).
ki790re: Number of asked questions not attempted if Participant completed the NVS Health Literacy Assessment without refusing any questions.
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: ki702re, ki703re-ki708re
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -2 | 993 | 1093 | 2086 | |
| 0 | ATTEMPTED TO ANSWER ALL ASKED QUESTIONS | 502 | 491 | 993 |
| 1 | 86 | 100 | 186 | |
| 2 | 19 | 38 | 57 | |
| 3 | 8 | 17 | 25 | |
| 4 | 6 | 8 | 14 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Note: A participant who completed the NVS Health Literacy Assessment without refusing any questions was deemed not to have attempted answering a question if they responded with "don't know" rather than guessing at the answer. If the participant refused to answer one or more NVS questions - or if the assessment was not administered or documented correctly - no health literacy score was computed for them and they have been assigned a value of "-2" on this variable (see KI702RE for more information on what assessment completion means, as well as all possible outcome codes).
Note: Participants were only asked all six NVS questions if they answered question #5 correctly; those who did not answer question #5 correctly skipped question #6 (resulting in them being asked a total of five questions).
ki709re: NVS Health Literacy Score if Participant completed the assessment and attempted all asked questions without any refusals.
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: ki702re, ki703re-ki708re
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -2 | 1113 | 1256 | 2369 | |
| 0 - 1 | HIGH LIKELIHOOD (50% OR MORE) OF LIMITED HEALTH LITERACY | 48 | 34 | 82 |
| 2 - 3 | POSSIBILITY OF LIMITED HEALTH LITERACY | 122 | 82 | 204 |
| 4 - 6 | ADEQUATE HEALTH LITERACY | 332 | 375 | 707 |
Note: Health literacy scores are computed by taking the sum of all correctly answered NVS questions, but participants were only asked all six questions if they answered question #5 correctly; those who did not answer question #5 correctly skipped question #6 (resulting in them being asked a total of five questions).
Note: A participant who completed the NVS Health Literacy Assessment without refusing any questions was deemed to have attempted answering a question if they provided a correct or incorrect response to it; if they responded with "don't know" rather than guessing at the answer, they were considered to have not attempted the question (see KI790RE). If the participant refused to answer one or more NVS questions - or if the assessment was not administered or documented correctly - no health literacy score was computed for them and they have been assigned a value of "-2" on this variable (see KI702RE for more information on what assessment completion means, as well as all possible outcome codes). For health literacy scores that include participants who completed the NVS assessment without attempting all questions (but who never refused a question), see KI710RE.
ki710re: NVS Health Literacy Score if Participant completed the assessment without any refusals.
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: ki702re, ki703re-ki708re
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -2 | 993 | 1093 | 2086 | |
| 0 - 1 | HIGH LIKELIHOOD (50% OR MORE) OF LIMITED HEALTH LITERACY | 103 | 94 | 197 |
| 2 - 3 | POSSIBILITY OF LIMITED HEALTH LITERACY | 164 | 130 | 294 |
| 4 - 6 | ADEQUATE HEALTH LITERACY | 355 | 430 | 785 |
Note: Health literacy scores are computed by taking the sum of all correctly answered NVS questions, but participants were only asked all six questions if they answered question #5 correctly; those who did not answer question #5 correctly skipped question #6 (resulting in them being asked a total of five questions).
Note: This variable includes participants who, while never refusing a question, did not attempt to answer all asked NVS questions when completing the health literacy assessment (see KI790RE); for health literacy scores exclusive to participants who attempted to answer all asked NVS questions, see KI709RE. If a participant who completed the NVS assessment refused to answer one or more questions - or if the assessment was not administered or documented correctly - no health literacy score was computed for them and they have been assigned a value of "-2" on this variable (see KI702RE for more information on what assessment completion means, as well as all possible outcome codes).
ki703re: Summary of whether Participant answered NVS question #1 correctly: 'If you eat the entire container of ice cream, how many calories will you eat?'
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: ki702re, y_NVS1
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -2 | 982 | 1080 | 2062 | |
| -1 | DON'T KNOW | 11 | 12 | 23 |
| 0 | ANSWERED INCORRECTLY | 154 | 113 | 267 |
| 1 | ANSWERED CORRECTLY | 468 | 542 | 1010 |
Note: The only correct answer to NVS question #1 is "1,000 calories."
ki704re: Summary of whether Participant answered NVS question #2 correctly: 'If you are allowed to eat 60 grams of carbohydrates as a snack, how much ice cream could you have?'
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: ki702re, y_NVS2
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -3 | REFUSED | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| -2 | 982 | 1080 | 2062 | |
| -1 | DON'T KNOW | 50 | 52 | 102 |
| 0 | ANSWERED INCORRECTLY | 110 | 71 | 181 |
| 1 | ANSWERED CORRECTLY | 470 | 544 | 1014 |
Note: Both of the following counted as correct answers to NVS question #2: 1 cup (or any amount up to 1 cup); half the container. If the participant answered with "two servings," the interviewer was instructed to ask, "How much ice cream would that be if you were to measure it into a bowl?"
ki705re: Summary of whether Participant answered NVS question #3 correctly: 'If you stop eating ice cream, how many grams of saturated fat would you be consuming each day?'
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: ki702re, y_NVS3
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -3 | REFUSED | 5 | 6 | 11 |
| -2 | 982 | 1080 | 2062 | |
| -1 | DON'T KNOW | 50 | 75 | 125 |
| 0 | ANSWERED INCORRECTLY | 277 | 288 | 565 |
| 1 | ANSWERED CORRECTLY | 301 | 298 | 599 |
Note: NVS question #3 was prefaced by the following hypothetical scenario: "Your doctor advises you to reduce the amount of saturated fat in your diet. You usually have 42 grams of saturated fat each day, which includes one serving of ice cream." The only correct answer to the question is "33 grams."
ki706re: Summary of whether Participant answered NVS question #4 correctly: 'If you usually eat 2,500 calories in a day, what percentage of your daily value of calories will you be eating if you eat one serving of ice cream?'
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: ki702re, y_NVS4
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -3 | REFUSED | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| -2 | 982 | 1080 | 2062 | |
| -1 | DON'T KNOW | 50 | 114 | 164 |
| 0 | ANSWERED INCORRECTLY | 165 | 184 | 349 |
| 1 | ANSWERED CORRECTLY | 414 | 361 | 775 |
Note: The only correct answer to NVS question #4 is "10%".
ki707re: Summary of whether Participant answered NVS question #5 correctly: 'Is it safe for you to eat this ice cream?'
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: ki702re, y_NVS5b
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -3 | REFUSED | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| -2 | 982 | 1080 | 2062 | |
| -1 | DON'T KNOW | 20 | 10 | 30 |
| 0 | ANSWERED INCORRECTLY | 270 | 195 | 465 |
| 1 | ANSWERED CORRECTLY | 340 | 460 | 800 |
Note: NVS question #5 was prefaced by the following hypothetical scenario: "Pretend that you are allergic to the following substances: penicillin, peanuts, latex gloves, and bee stings." The correct answer to the question is "no."
ki708re: Summary of whether Participant answered NVS question #6 correctly: 'Why is it not safe for you to eat this ice cream?'
Data source: Sibling Participant or Proxy
Collected in: 2011
Mode: In person & telephone
Source variables: ki702re, ki707re, y_NVS5c
| Frequencies | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | Label | Male | Female | Total |
| . | System missing - NR | 2736 | 2510 | 5246 |
| -30 | NOT PART OF MOSAQ | 72 | 63 | 135 |
| -28 | NOT ASKED OF PARTICIPANT OVER TELEPHONE | 11 | 16 | 27 |
| -27 | NOT ASKED OF PROXY | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| -4 | NOT ASCERTAINED | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| -2 | 1275 | 1287 | 2562 | |
| -1 | DON'T KNOW | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 0 | ANSWERED INCORRECTLY | 21 | 22 | 43 |
| 1 | ANSWERED CORRECTLY | 313 | 435 | 748 |
Note: NVS question #6 was only asked if the participant correctly answered question #5. Both questions were prefaced by the following hypothetical scenario: "Pretend that you are allergic to the following substances: penicillin, peanuts, latex gloves, and bee stings." The correct answer to question #6 is something to the effect of "because it has peanut oil."