# Problems finding some variables via search?

**URL:** <https://forum.ipums.org/t/problems-finding-some-variables-via-search/5298>\
**Category:** HEALTH SURVEYS\
**Created:** [May 24, 2023, 3:32pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/problems-finding-some-variables-via-search/5298 "2023-05-24T15:32:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![skolenik](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.ipums.org/skolenik/32/201_2.png) [@skolenik](https://forum.ipums.org/u/skolenik)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2023, 3:32pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/problems-finding-some-variables-via-search/5298/1 "2023-05-24T15:32:37Z")

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I’ve had a hard time finding the `AHCSY1_2` variable (see source [2018 NHIS Sample Adult Questionnaire (cdc.gov)](https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Survey_Questionnaires/NHIS/2018/english/qadult.pdf)) in the NHIS IPUMS files:

> DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, have you seen or talked to any of the following health care providers about your own health?  
> …An optometrist, ophthalmologist (AHF-thal-MOL-oh-jist), or eye doctor (someone who prescribes eyeglasses)

None of the searches for `eye*` / `opto*` / `opht*` produced that variable. I finally found it as [`SAWEYEDR`](https://nhis.ipums.org/nhis-action/variables/SAWEYEDR) under the _Medical Care_ category. I was hoping it would have been easier to find through search.

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**Author:** ![KariWilliams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@KariWilliams](https://forum.ipums.org/u/KariWilliams)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 8:06pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/problems-finding-some-variables-via-search/5298/2 "2023-05-26T20:06:16Z")

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Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Because of the large number of variables in the IPUMS NHIS database, our search tool does not automatically include text in the variable descriptions (though you can optionally specify to search these as well); I was able to uncover this variable using your search criteria _when I also searched the variable descriptions_. That being said, I would expect a search for “eye\*” to have flagged this variable even without searching variable descriptions. I have a request out to our IT group to ensure there isn’t a bug in the search tool.

Note that we also offer a [concordance tool](https://nhis.ipums.org/nhis-action/nhis_variables) to help users identify the IPUMS NHIS equivalents of the original NCHS variable mnemonics.

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**Author:** ![skolenik](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.ipums.org/skolenik/32/201_2.png) [@skolenik](https://forum.ipums.org/u/skolenik)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2023, 12:58pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/problems-finding-some-variables-via-search/5298/3 "2023-05-30T12:58:39Z")

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Thanks, @KariWilliams. I think I used the “Description” field, too, but I am not 100% sure. I was not aware of the concordance tool – thanks for pointing it out!