The reliability of the Minimum European Health Module

Int J Public Health. 2009;54(2):55-60. doi: 10.1007/s00038-009-7104-y.

Abstract

Objectives: The Minimum European Health Module (MEHM) consists of 3 global questions concerning 3 health domains: self-perceived health, chronic conditions and long-term activity limitation. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the reliability of the MEHM.

Methods: Participants of the Belgian Food Consumption Survey were interviewed twice: 170 individuals were selected for the MEHM reliability evaluation. For each of the 3 questions Pearson and Kappa coefficients were estimated. Analyses were stratified by gender, age, education, language and time between the interviews.

Results: The Pearson correlations are between 0.73 and 0.81. The Kappa estimates are good or excellent: 0.74 (self-perceived health), 0.77 (chronic conditions) and 0.68 (activity limitation). Also stratified analyses indicated in general an acceptable reliability.

Conclusion: The MEHM has an acceptable reliability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Belgium
  • Chronic Disease / epidemiology*
  • Disability Evaluation*
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Health Status Indicators*
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Young Adult