Table 2.
Sample characteristics
| Characteristic | Australia | Canada | The Netherlands | Sweden | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n = 477 | n = 471 | n = 481 | n = 476 | n = 477 | |
| Age, mean (SD), years | 44.9 (16.2) | 47.4 (15.1) | 46.3 (16.9) | 50.0 (16.8) | 49.2 (15.6) |
| Age range, n (%), years | |||||
| 18–34 | 167 (35.0) | 118 (25.1) | 146 (30.4) | 112 (23.5) | 128 (26.8) |
| 35–54 | 181 (37.9) | 202 (42.9) | 172 (35.8) | 176 (37.0) | 175 (36.7) |
| ≥ 55 | 129 (27.0) | 151 (32.1) | 163 (33.9) | 188 (39.5) | 174 (36.5) |
| Sex, n (%) | |||||
| Male | 235 (49.3) | 239 (50.7) | 220 (45.7) | 224 (47.1) | 221 (46.3) |
| Female | 241 (50.5) | 232 (49.3) | 261 (54.3) | 249 (52.3) | 256 (53.7) |
| Other | 1 (0.2) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (0.6) | 0 (0) |
| Educational level, n (%) | |||||
| No formal qualifications | 5 (1.1) | 7 (1.5) | 0 (0) | 5 (1.1) | 14 (2.9) |
| Left school at age 15 or 16 years | 55 (11.5) | 81 (17.2) | 6 (1.3) | 42 (8.8) | 119 (24.9)a |
| Left school at age 17 or 18 years | 123 (25.8) | 38 (8.1) | 191 (39.7) | 176 (37.0) | 148 (31.0)b |
| University degree or higher | 227 (47.6) | 335 (71.1) | 255 (53.0) | 204 (42.9)c | 187 (39.2) |
| Other | 66 (13.8) | 7 (1.5) | 29 (6.0) | 44 (9.2) | 9 (1.9) |
| Prefer not to answer | 1 (0.2) | 3 (0.6) | 0 (0) | 5 (1.1) | 0 (0) |
| Employment status, n (%) | |||||
| Full-time employment | 169 (35.4) | 226 (48.0) | 148 (30.8) | 151 (31.7) | 192 (40.3) |
| Part-time employment | 89 (18.7) | 41 (8.7) | 99 (20.6) | 44 (9.2) | 56 (11.7) |
| Self-employed | 29 (6.1) | 37 (7.9) | 26 (5.4) | 25 (5.3) | 26 (5.5) |
| Looking after family/home/caregiver | 27 (5.7) | 5 (1.1) | 31 (6.4) | 4 (0.8) | 35 (7.3) |
| Retired | 81 (17.0) | 99 (21.0) | 67 (13.9) | 129 (27.1) | 113 (23.7) |
| Seeking work, unemployed | 32 (6.7) | 24 (5.1) | 22 (4.6) | 44 (9.2) | 28 (5.9) |
| Not working, health problems | 19 (4.0) | 18 (3.8) | 42 (8.7) | 29 (6.1) | 23 (4.8) |
| In education/training | 25 (5.2) | 15 (3.2) | 36 (7.5) | 36 (7.6) | 1 (0.2) |
| Other | 4 (0.8) | 3 (0.6) | 8 (1.7) | 13 (2.7) | 2 (0.4) |
| Prefer not to answer | 2 (0.4) | 3 (0.6) | 2 (0.2) | 1 (0.2) | 0 (0) |
| Health status, n (%) | |||||
| Long-term condition requiring medication | 236 (49.5) | 202 (42.9) | 214 (44.5) | 209 (43.9) | 239 (50.1) |
| Diagnosis of rare disease | 40 (8.4) | 28 (5.9) | 39 (8.1) | 48 (10.1) | 28 (5.9) |
Percentages may not sum to 100% because of rounding
BTEC Business and Technology Education Council, GCSE General Certificate of Secondary Education, ONC Ordinary National Certificate, SD standard deviation
aO level/GCSE or equivalent (age 16 years)
bIncludes the categories ‘higher education below degree level’, ‘A level (age 18 years)’, and ‘further education certificate (ONC/BTEC)’
cCollege degree or higher