TABLE 1.

MSS Health Status and Health Care Utilization Measures

Measure	Survey Item	Dichotomized Responses
Health status
General health	How would you describe your health in general?	1 = poor, fair, or gooda
		0 = very good or excellent
Long-term physical disabilities or health problems	Do you have any physical disabilities, or long-term health problems (such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, or something else)? Long-term means lasting 6 months or more	1 = yes
		0 = no
Long-term mental health problems	Do you have any long-term mental health, behavioral, or emotional problems? Long-term means lasting 6 months or more	1 = yes
		0 = no
Stayed home sick (last 30 days)	During the last 30 days, how many times have you. . .stayed home because you were sick?	1 = 1+ times
		0 = none
Health care utilization
Nurse office visits (last 30 days)	During the last 30 days, how many times have you. . .gone to the nurse’s office?	1 = 1+ times
		0 = none
Preventive medical checkup	When was the last time you saw a doctor or nurse for a checkup or physical examination when you were not sick or injured?	1 = during the last yearb
		0 = not in the last year
Preventive dental checkup	When was the last time you saw a dentist or dental hygienist for a regular checkup, examination, teeth cleaning, or other dental work?	1 = during the last yearc
		0 = not in the last year

^aResponse options for general health were dichotomized because of a skewed distribution.

^bFollowing recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics for wellness checkups.²⁷

^cFollowing recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for regular checkups.²⁸