Hospital visits as an admitted patient: Respondents were asked about visits to a hospital for their own health in the previous two weeks. Admitted hospital patients are those visiting a day clinic for minor surgery or diagnostic tests other than an x-ray, and hospitals other than as an outpatient or emergency patient. NHS Q508, Q509, Q510, Q511, Q512, Q513.

Hospital visits as a non-admitted patient: Respondents were asked about visits to a hospital for their own health in the previous two weeks. Non-admitted hospital visits include: visits to the outpatients section of a hospital; and visits to a casualty or emergency ward of a hospital. NHS Q501, Q502, Q504, Q505, Q506.

Prescription medication: Respondents were asked about medications they had used in the previous two weeks (vitamins and minerals are explicitly excluded). The respondent was then asked to get out the medications, and the names of all medications were then recorded. The respondent was then asked whether a prescription was needed to get each medication (up to a maximum of seven medications). If a prescription was needed then it was classified as a prescription medication. NHS Q605, Q606, Q608, Q614, Q625, Q636, Q647, Q658, Q669, Q680.

Non-prescription medication (see discussion for prescription medications): Defined as a medication for which a prescription was not needed. NHS Q605, Q606, Q608, Q614, Q625, Q636, Q647, Q658, Q669, Q680.

Other health professionals: includes acupuncturist, audiologist/audiometrist, chiropractor, chemist, chiropodist/podiatrist, dietician/nutritionist, herbalist, hypnotherapist, naturopath, nurse, optician/optometrist, osteopath, occupational therapist, physiotherapist/hydrotherapist, psychologist, social worker/welfare officer, speech therapist/pathologist, other. NHS Q520, Q521.

General practitioner and specialist: excludes consultations during hospital and day clinic visits. NHS Q515, Q516.