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BRFSS [Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System]
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BRFSS [Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System]
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Sara Bianchi's Files
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PHOTOCOPY
PRESERVATION
B. R. F. S. 5.
Vast Potential of the BRFSS
States Use the BRFSS in Many Ways
Through the unique capabilities of the BRFSS, all 50
The eight states participating in the Rocky
states now have state-specific information on health-
Assessing Health Risks
Mountain Tobacco-Free Challenge use
BRFSS data to measure the success of their
related knowledge and behaviors. Moreover, states
respective efforts in reducing the prevalence
are able to sample special groups in unprecedented
in America
of smoking.
ways. For example, several states can collaborate on
health issues unique to geographic areas that cross
Many states find BRFSS an invaluable adjunct
state boundaries. Such information enables states to
to the National Breast and Cervical Cancer
better target scarce resources.
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Early Detection Program in that they can
monitor their progress in providing life-saving
The BRFSS survey has proven useful in other ways as
(BRFSS)
mammography and cervical cancer screening
to low-income women.
well, such as enabling states to collect information
on the percentage of uninsured adults in their
jurisdictions. Health maintenance organizations have
AT-A-GLANCE
Oregon has used BRFSS data to evaluate
the effect of a new bicycle helmet law on
used the BRFSS to learn about their clients' health
1998
preventing head injuries.
risk behaviors and use of clinical services. As health
care management evolves in America and emphasis
on prevention increases, information from the BRFSS
will become even more critical to making sound
health policy decisions.
Percentage of Adults Aged 18-64 Years Who Reported Having No Health Insurance, 1996*
RI
MA
MD
CT
DC
NJ
DE
"CDC provides a standardized product that lets us do specialized,
VT
detailed analyses. Without that product, we'd be hung up just getting the
NH
data into any kind of order. CDC's role provides an economy of scale."
BRFSS Coordinator, Washington State Department of Health
Analysis of BRFSS data
reveals patterns in access
to health care.
6.7%-13.2%
13.4%-15.2%
15.3%-19.3%
19.4%-29.4%
*All data are age adjusted, 1970 total U.S. population.
Source: CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (provisional data).
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
For more information or additional copies of this document, please contact the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
CENTERS
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Mail Stop K-30,
4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, (770) 488-5292.
[email protected]
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp
Poor Health Behavior Choices
Leisure-time physical activities.
Information on age, sex, racial and ethnic back-
State participants use the information available from
Take a Heavy Toll
Injury control, including the use of seatbelts.
ground, education, and other demographic factors is
the BRFSS for many purposes:
In the United States, over half of the two million
Women's health issues (e.g., pregnancy and
gathered so that estimates can be made for specific
Determine priority health issues and develop
hysterectomy).
population groups and interventions can be directed
deaths each year are due to personal health
strategic plans.
Use of preventive services (e.g., immunization;
to people at greatest risk.
behaviors-the choices people make every day
Monitor the effectiveness of intervention measures
that affect their health. Such behaviors include
screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal
and the achievement of prevention program
cancer).
CDC edits and processes data from each state's
goals.
Tobacco use.
HIV and AIDS.
monthly interviews and then returns prevalence
Support appropriate public health policy.
Physical inactivity.
information and selected reports to all states for
Create reports, fact sheets, press releases, and
Poor diet.
their use.
other publications designed to educate the
Alcohol and other drug use.
Unique Strengths of the BRFSS
public, the health community, and policymakers
Violence.
Many Uses for BRFSS Data
about disease prevention.
Risky sexual behaviors.
Flexible, timely,
Allows for
Lack of preventive services (e.g., screening,
The BRFSS was designed from the outset to allow
and ongoing
state-to-state
BRFSS data also enable public health professionals to
immunization).
data collection
and state-to-nation
comparisons between states, and between individual
monitor progress in achieving the nation's health
comparisons
states and the nation. Every state uses a similar
objectives, as outlined in Healthy People 2000:
Health promotion efforts at the national, state, and
method of selecting respondents and the same core
National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
local levels aim to reduce the prevalence of these
questions to facilitate comparisons.
health risk behaviors. For such efforts to succeed,
Able to address
Fewer resources
Objectives. For example, states have used BRFSS
data to follow mammography use over a period of
health planners need to know the extent to which
emerging health
required than
In addition, because many of the same questions are
issues
for in-person
Americans are engaging in such behaviors and
interviews
asked each year, nationwide and state trends in
years. Mammography trends for three states are
shown below.
which groups of people are most at risk.
health-related behaviors and knowledge can be
monitored over time. This capability is crucial in
measuring the effectiveness of health promotion
Collecting Critical Information
How Information Is Collected
efforts.
CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Every month, states select a random sample of
(BRFSS) is a unique, state-based surveillance system
adults for a telephone interview. This selection
active in all 50 states. This system is the primary
process results in a representative sample for each
Percentage of Women Aged 50 Years or Older Who Reported Having Had a
source of state-based information on risk behaviors
state so that statistical inferences can be made from
Mammogram Within the Previous Two Years, Selected States, BRFSS, 1987-1995
among adult populations.
the information collected.
80
Since the early 1980s, CDC has worked with the
The questionnaire has three parts:
Washington
states to develop questions designed to gather
Core questions used by all states.
information from adults on their knowledge,
Standard sets of questions on selected topics
New York
attitudes, and practices related to issues such as
that states may choose to add.
60
Health status and access to care.
Questions developed by individual states on
Tobacco and alcohol use.
issues of special interest (e.g., prostate cancer,
Percentage
Kentucky
Dietary patterns (e.g., dietary fat intake,
bicycle helmet use).
40
consumption of fruits and vegetables).
20
"The BRFSS is the perfect instrument for adding state-specific questions.
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
What else do we have for surveying the behavior of the general, adult population?"
Year
Epidemiologist, Connecticut Department of Public Health