Public health policies need reliable data on health status, health care use and health determinants from population surveys for all EU and EEA member states. The European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) is the instrument to collect such information. The corresponding methodological manual aims ensuring a high level of comparability of the survey results across countries.

The first wave of EHIS was conducted under a gentlemen’s agreement in 17 EU Member States between 2006 and 2009. The second wave of EHIS was conducted as a mandatory survey in all 28 EU Member States, Iceland and Norway between 2013 and 2015. The third wave of EHIS is planned for 2019, based on the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 2018/255 of 19 February 2018. This manual should serve as the handbook for more detailed planning and implementing EHIS wave 3 in EU and EEA member states. Conducting the survey according to the rules and recommendations described in these guidelines is crucial for ensuring harmonized and high quality data on health across Europe.

The Methodological manual for EHIS wave 3 is split into two main parts. The first part includes conceptual guidelines and translation and interview instructions for all modules, sub-modules and variables (including model questions); an overview of core social variables is provided as well. The second part of the manual deals with statistical survey guidelines and contains also a description of the technical survey variables. Instructions on data processing (including a codebook and validation rules) and transmission to Eurostat as well as the format for quality reporting (a quality report template) are provided in separate documents. 

1.3.3. Medicine use (MD) p.68

• MD1: Use of any medicines prescribed by a doctor during the past two weeks (excluding contraception) p.68
• MD2: Use of any medicines, herbal medicines or vitamins not prescribed by a doctor during the past two weeks p.69 

1.4.4. Smoking (SK) p.103

• SK1: Type of current tobacco smoking behaviour p.103
• SK2: Average number of cigarettes a day p.104
• SK3: Former daily tobacco smoking p.105
• SK4: Number of years of daily tobacco smoking p.106
• SK5: Frequency of exposure to tobacco smoke indoors p.107
• SK6: Type of electronic cigarettes or similar electronic devices use p.108 

1.4.5. Alcohol consumption (AL) p.109

• AL1: Frequency of consumption of an alcoholic drink of any kind (beer, wine, cider, spirits, cocktails, premixes, liqueurs, homemade alcohol…) in the past 12 months p.109
• AL2: Frequency of consumption of an alcoholic drink for Monday-Thursday p.111
• AL3: Number of alcoholic (standard) drinks on average on one of the days (Monday to Thursday) p.112
• AL4: Frequency of consumption of an alcoholic drink for Friday-Sunday p.113
• AL5: Number of alcoholic (standard) drinks on average on one of the days (Friday-Sunday) p.114
• AL6: Frequency of risky single-occasion drinking (equivalent of 60g of pure ethanol or more) during the past 12 months p.115