Survey Results

Survey Items: Survey instrument item number for children 0-5 years: D5, D6; for children 6-11 years: D5, D6; for children 12-17 years: D5, D6
Variables in public use data file: BESTFORCHILD; DECISIONS; DISCUSSOPT; RAISECONC

Denominator: Children age 0-17 years who had a health care visit in the past 12 months

Numerator: Children whose families usually or always feel that they are partners in decision making around issues important to their child's health; Children whose families sometimes or never feel that they are partners in decision making around issues important to their child's health; No decisions needed

Revisions and Changes: This measure was available in the 2009/10 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN). The items used to develop this measure were revised substantially between 2009/10 NS-CSHCN and the 2016 NSCH. In the 2016 NSCH, a filter question asked whether any decisions were needed about the child's health care services during the past 12 months. Then, they were asked questions to assess if they felt like a partner in the decision making. For more information about the changes click here.
In the NSCH 2011/12, the composite shared decision making measure was considered missing if any component has missing data. In the 2016, the measure is only considered missing if all components are missing.
Due to changes in the survey’s mode of data collection and sampling frame, as well as adjustments to item wording where necessary, MCHB alerts data users that it is not be possible to compare estimates from the redesigned survey to those from previous iterations of the NSCH or NS-CSHCN or to conduct related trend analyses. The redesigned NSCH will support trend analyses beginning with data from 2016.

Additional Notes: This measure is based on whether the child has a family who usually or always feels that doctors or other health care providers: 1) discuss with parents a range of options to consider for their child's health care or treatment; 2) make it easy to raise concerns or disagree with recommendations for the child's health; and 3) work together to decide health care and treatment choices would be best for the child. Children with a valid, positive response (usually or always) to at least one component and the remainder of the components were missing are categorized as families feel that they are partners in decision making.
The question was asked only if child had a health care visit in the past 12 months.

Treatment of Unknown Values: Missing values due to non-response or a “don’t know” response are not included in the denominator when calculating prevalence estimates and weighted population counts displayed in the data query results table. In the majority of cases, the proportion of missing values is less than 2%. Exceptions are noted in the form of a Data Alert at the bottom of a results table. The exclusion of these values does not change the prevalence estimates (%) and only marginally affects the weighted population counts (Pop. Est.). If missing cases are handled in any other way, details can be found in the "Additional notes" section above.

History and Development: The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) funds and directs the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), and develops survey content in collaboration with the U.S. Census Bureau and a Technical Expert Panel. The Technical Expert Panel consists of experts in survey methodology and children’s health, federal and state stakeholders, clinicians and researchers. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the survey, oversees the sampling, and produces a final data set of survey results. Respondents’ cognitive understanding of the survey questions was assessed during the pretest phase and revisions were made. Previously validated questions and scales are used when available.
Prior to 2016, the NSCH and the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs were each conducted three times as interviewer-assisted telephone surveys using random digit dial sampling. In 2016, the two surveys were combined into a single self-administered questionnaire. Due to decline in the number of households with landline telephones, the NSCH now utilizes an address-based sampling method to select participating households, thus all invitations are sent by mail. Participants may choose to complete the survey either online using a secure website or a mailed paper version of the survey. All final data components are verified by the Census Bureau, MCHB and DRC/CAHMI staff prior to public release. More information can be found in the “Review the Surveys” section of this website.