The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) obtains data each month from randomly selected adults in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In 1999, more than 160,000 interviews were completed nationally. This state-based surveillance system obtains data via telephone interviews on a variety of health risk behaviors, ranging from cigarette smoking to physical activity to receipt of preventive health services such as mammography. Given the widespread availability of telephones, the substantial savings associated with phone surveys compared to household interviews, and the rapidity with which telephone survey data can be collected and released, the BRFSS represents a potential source of national estimates for several health risk behaviors. Collecting representative data in each state and pooling data is not the most efficient way for producing a national sample; nevertheless, representative samples are used in each state and data are weighted to each state's adult population (based on age, sex, and race), making pooling of data across states a potential source for nationally representative estimates. Although data collection in the BRFSS is decentralized, each state uses the same question wording and a random sample design. This paper compares pooled BRFSS estimates and estimates from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) on similar topics. The comparisons are race/ethnic specific for white Non-Hispanic, black Non-Hispanic and Hispanic populations. Results indicate that pooled estimates from the BRFSS are generally very similar to the national estimates provided by the NHIS for each of these groups as well as for the total population.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Behavioral Research, Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment