Table 2 Three validated questions about abuse in health care in the NorVold Abuse Questionnaire. To estimate prevalence rates, abuse in health care was operationalised as at least one ‘Yes’ to one of the three questions

Mild abuse

Have you ever felt offended or grossly degraded while visiting health care services, felt that someone exercised blackmail against you or did not show respect for your opinion – in such a way that you were later disturbed by or suffered from the experience?

Moderate abuse

Have you ever experienced that a “normal” event, while visiting health care services, suddenly became a really terrible and insulting experience, without you fully knowing how this could happen?

Severe abuse

Have you ever experienced anybody in health service purposely – as you understood – hurting you physically or mentally, grossly violating you or using your body and your subordinated position to your disadvantage for his/her own purpose?

Answer alternatives (same for all questions): 1 = No, 2 = Yes, as a child (<18 years), 3 = Yes, as an adult (≥18 years), 4 = Yes, as a child and as an adult.