Health and Activity Limitation Survey: Household Component (HALS)

Summary of changes

Activity on this program started: 1983

Reference period of change - 2022

The Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD) will be conducted for a third time in 2022. Most of the content included in the 2022 CSD is the same as the 2017 cycle, having only a few minor changes. This allows for important comparisons and observations to be made about changes that may have taken place over the last five years, for instance, whether the employment rate for persons with disabilities has improved or worsened since 2017. The 2022 cycle of the CSD expanded to include 9 new blocks. This includes modules on sex and gender, cannabis use, accessibility barriers, social isolation, food security, homelessness, sexual orientation, self-identification of disability, and COVID-19. Instrument design - The main mode of data collection is the respondent electronic questionnaire (rEQ), with follow-up using interviewer electronic questionnaire (iEQ). The third collection mode is CAPI Lite Plus (CLP) which will be performed with respondents in Nunavut. Initial contact will be made to encourage respondent participation, confirm and update contact information, and make an appointment to complete the survey using the iEQ.

Reference period of change - 2017

The CSD was conducted for a second time in 2017, which was the first time that the Disability Screening questions (DSQ) were fully implemented.

Target population - Improvements were made to the methodology of the 2017 CSD which affect time series comparability with 2012 CSD data. Because of these important changes, it is neither possible nor recommended to compare disability data over time between the 2012 and 2017 CSD. Any comparison will be invalid. The 2016 Census, Activities of Daily Living question (found on the long form) was new, allowing better coverage of persons with a disability, especially of persons with a cognitive disability or a mental health- related disability. Therefore, coverage of persons with a disability for the 2017 CSD has improved compared to the 2012 CSD.

Instrument design - The main mode of data collection changed from a Computer-Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) method for the 2012 CSD to an Internet-based Electronic Questionnaire (EQ) application in 2017.

Seven new modules were added in 2017. These include modules on Episodic Disabilities, General Health, use of various Health Care Services, being Housebound, Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces, Internet Use, and Accessibility of Government Services.

Additionally, two age-related questions were added to each of the disability types. The first was to identify the onset of the

Sampling - The domains of estimation remained the same as in 2012. However, since the Activities of Daily Living question from the Census was new in 2016 compared to the questions on the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS), the approximate measure of severity used to stratify had to be modified. There were two levels of severity in 2012, and in 2017 there are three. Furthermore, stratification in 2012 took into account sub-sampling done for non-response follow-up to the NHS. This complexity is no longer required.

The minimum proportions to estimate in the computation of sample size are slightly different from 2012. They went from 9% to 10% for the 15 to 24 age group, from 7.5% to 8.5% for those aged 25 to 44 and 45 to 64 years old, from 11% to 12% for those aged 65 to 74 years old, and from 11% to 13% for the 75 years and over group. In PEI for the 15 to 44 years old group, the minimum proportion to estimate went from 9% to 8.5% while in the three territories, it went from 8% to 9% (aged 15 and over).

Reference period of change - 2012

In 2012 the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS) was renamed the Canadian Survey on Disability.

Reference period of change - 2001

In 2001 the Health and Activity Limitation Survey (HALS) was renamed the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey (PALS). In 2006 the PALS was conducted a second time.

Reference period of change - 1986

The Health and Activity Limitation Survey (HALS) was first conducted in 1986. This survey was repeated in 1991.

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