Utilizing the BRFSS as a Tool for Planning & Evaluation by a County-wide Collaborative

A population's health is influenced by many factors including its physical environment, culture and value systems, biology, socioeconomic stratification and personal health behaviors. In local communities across the nation there are many institutions and agencies that try to positively impact the health of residents. In 2002, the Allegheny County Health Department (including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health brought together a group of governmental and voluntary community organizations to design and implement a behavior health risk survey. The study used Core and Option Modules of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) to assess the prevalence of health problems in the county. To maximize the range and usefulness of information collected, the health department invited other interested community agencies to participate. Agencies that participated provided funding and participated in the survey design.

During 2002, a total of 4,750 randomly selected adult residents of Allegheny County completed interviews. A disproportionate stratified sample design was used. Areas with high concentrations of African Americans were over-sampled. Computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted with each completed interview taking about 30 minutes. The survey included 258 questions. The data are being used to plan interventions targeted to specific health problems of the citizens of Allegheny County. Subsequent surveys (every 4 years) will be conducted to evaluate the progress of change in the community.

During the presentation we will discuss the methodological/implementation issues and the nature/composition of the collaborative.