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The 1999 Field Representative's Manual defines homeopathic treatment as:

This definition was not routinely shared with respondents.

In later years the definitions were more expansive. The 2002 Field Representative's Manual says that homeopathic treatment is:

This definition was not routinely shared with respondents.

The 2007 Field Representative's Manual provides an almost identical definition but omits examples of conditions that have been treated with homeopathy:

In 2007 field representatives were advised to "feel free to offer [this definition] even if the respondent has not requested [it]." See the comparability section below for a brief description of homeopathy that was always shared with the person responding for sample children in 2007.

Respondents who indicated that they had ever used homeopathy (HOMEV) (in the case of sample adults) and that they had used it in the last 12 months (HOMYR) (both sample adults and sample children) were asked follow-up questions about their use of homeopathy. Most of the following variables relate only to sample adults, except for HOMTREAT and some variables covering specific health conditions.

• importance of use of homeopathic treatment (HOMIMPORT)

• how often purchased homeopathic medicine (HOMNO, HOMTP)

• amount spent last time homeopathic medicine purchased (HOMPAID)

• whether used homeopathic treatment for specific health problem (HOMTREAT)

• whether ever saw practitioner for homeopathic treatment (HOMPRAC)

• whether saw practitioner for homeopathic treatment, past 12 months (HOMPRACYR)

• number of times saw practitioner for homeopathic treatment (HOMPRACNO)

• amount paid per visit to homeopathic practitioner (HOMPRACPAY)

• reasons for using homeopathic treatment (HOMUSCOMBO, HOMUSENERGY, HOMUSHCREC, HOMUSIMMUN, HOMUSINTER, HOMUSMEDCOST, HOMUSMEDFAIL, HOMUSRELREC, HOMUSWELL)

• whether combined homeopathic treatment with conventional treatments (HOMNOCONV, HOMCOUN, HOMNPMED, HOMPMED, HOMPT, HOMSURG)

• timing of homeopathic treatment, relative to use of conventional treatments (HOMCOUNTIM, HOMNPMEDTIM, HOMPMEDTIM, HOMPTTIM, HOMSURGTIM)

• whether informed conventional medical practitioners of use of homeopathic treatment (HOMLCONVHP, HOMLDENT, HOMLDO, HOMLMD, HOMLNURS, HOMLPHARM, HOMLPSYCHI, HOMLPSYCHO)

Persons who indicated in HOMTREAT that they had used homeopathy in the past 12 months to treat a specific health problem were asked to specify the condition treated. There are 131 total variables for specific conditions that were treated by homeopathy, including 72 for sample adults, 28 for sample children, and 31 for both sample adults and sample children. See HOMTREAT for more detail and the full list of conditions that persons could indicate were treated with homeopathy. Analysts interested in the conditions that homeopathy was used to treat may also wish to consult the following variables:

• condition for which homeopathic treatment was used most (HOMTCONMOST)

• first condition for which homeopathic treatment was used (HOMCON1)

• degree of help from homeopathic treatment, 1st condition (HOMCON1HELP)

• second condition for which homeopathic treatment was used (HOMCON2)

• degree of help from homeopathic treatment, 2nd condition (HOMCON2HELP)

• third condition for which homeopathic treatment was used (HOMCON3)

• degree of help from homeopathic treatment, 3rd condition (HOMCON3HELP)

• condition count for homeopathic treatment (HOMCONNO)

In 1999 the question read, "During the past 12 months, have you used homeopathic treatment?"

The 2002 sample adult questionnaire asked, "During the past 12 months, did you use homeopathic treatment for your own health?"

The 2007 sample adult questionnaire asked, "During the past 12 months, did you use homeopathic treatment for yourself?"

The 2007 sample child questionnaire read, "People who use homeopathy (home-mee-AH-puh-thee) to treat health problems take small pills or drops that are placed under the tongue. These pills or drops are often prescribed by practitioners of homeopathy. DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, did [fill: sample child's name] use homeopathic (hoh-mee-oh-PA-thik) treatment?"