Descriptive System
The respondent is asked to indicate his/her health state by ticking (or placing a cross) in the box against the most appropriate statement in each of the 5 dimensions. This decision results in a one-digit number expressing the level selected for that dimension. The digits for five dimensions can be combined in a five-digit number describing the respondent’s health state. It should be noted that the numerals 1-3 have no arithmetic properties and should not be used as a cardinal score.
Although self-explanatory instructions are provided within the text, the following guidelines may be helpful. A respondent may sometimes find that the number of levels is too limited. For example, for the mobility question, a respondent in a wheelchair is not 'confined to bed', but he/she may find 'some problems in walking about' appears to under-estimate their level of difficulty. If an administrator is present he/she should stress the instruction: 'please indicate which statements best describe your own health state today'. It is the respondent's personal evaluation that is required and on no account should a prompt be given.
