Activity limitation is a dimension of health/disability capturing long-standing limitation in performing usual activities (due to health problems). Indicators based on this concept can be used to evaluate the general health status, disability and related inequalities and health care needs at the population level.
Example of an operational definition used within the European Statistical System:
- One question instrument – the Global Activity Limitation Instrument (GALI) - assessing the presence of long-standing activity limitation: “For at least the past 6 months, to what extent have you been limited because of a health problem in activities people usually do? Would you say you have been …” severely limited / limited but not severely or / not limited at all? The question was developed by the Euro-REVES project. It is used in European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) (HS3 variable) and EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) (PH030 variable).
Further information
Related concepts
- Disability
- Basic activity difficulty
- Longstanding health problems or diseases
- Self-perceived health
- Chronic morbidity
- Healthy Life Years