The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) provides state level data on behavioral risk factors for the Nation. However, more localized data is needed for communities to design, implement and evaluate their local public health interventions or surveillance activities. The State of Illinois, Department of Public Health (IDPH) has pioneered such an effort through its implementation of the Illinois County Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (ICBRFSS). A major component of ICBRFSS was the development of a training program for local health department (LHD) staff concerning the availability of the ICBRFSS data and its reporting utility. A self-assessment tool regarding use of the ICBRFSS data and additional training needs was mailed to training program participants with a response rate of 97%. Findings indicate that counties shared data with one or more entities such as community organizations (61.6%) or policy makers (52.1%) and that the ICBRFSS questions were reflective of questions they receive from the public or other agencies (91.8%). Furthermore, respondents who shared data with multiple groups were more likely to use the survey results to support funding and grant applications (X2=11.65, p<0.05) and to reassess the health priorities of the county (X2=18.65, p<0.01). Potential benefits from the ICBRFSS initiative for other states include: 1) Flexibility in the provision of localized data that is more useful to county-wide interventions and surveillance; 2) Ease of comparison of county data with state and national data through a standardized data collection system; and, 3) Increased involvement and participation of LHDs.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the process for conducting a county level Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2. Discuss the usefulness of data related products that can be obtained from a county level surveillance system 3. Evaluate the potential benefits and costs of adopting this type of surveillance model in other states.
Keywords: Risk Factors, Surveillance
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.