NS 210 – Unit 4 SeminarBehavioral Risk Factor

Surveillance System (BRFSS)

• Welcome to week 4!

Importance of National Dietary and Nutrition Surveys

• Show food supply distribution according to demographic factors such as:• Region, income, sex, race, ethnicity

• Monitoring Nutritional Status of a Country

• Relationships between diet and health can be elucidated

• Determining benefit levels for participants of the Food Stamp Program

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)http://www.cdc.gov/BRFSS/

• What is it?• The worlds largest on-going telephone health

survey systems• Tracking health conditions and risk behaviors since

1984• Established in 1984 by Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC)• State-based system of health surveys that collect

info on:• Health Risk behaviors• Preventative health practices• Health care access related to chronic disease and injury

History of the BRFSS• Early 1980’s

• Personal health behaviors play a role in premature morbidity and mortality

• Data was not available on a state specific basis• This deficiency was critical for state health agencies

• About this same time personal health behaviors received wider recognition

• Philosophy• To collect data on actual behaviors, rather than on

attitudes or knowledge• Useful for planning, initiating, supporting and

evaluating health promotion and disease prevention programs

BRFSS Turning Information into Health

• Interactive Databases• Prevalence and Trends Data• SMART: City and County Data• BRFSS Maps• Web Enabled Analysis Tools (WEAT)• Chronic Disease Indicators (CDI)

• Survey Data and Downloads• BRFSS Annual Survey Data and GIS Maps

Data, Weighting Formula

http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/

• Take the next 20 minutes and go explore the BRFSS website

• Collect what you found and we will talk about it when we return

• See you in twenty minutes!

Prevalence and Trends (Montana)

• State Year Category

Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have diabetes?

  YesYes, pregnancy-

relatedNo

No, pre-diabetes or borderline diabetes

%

CIn

6.5(5.8-7.1)652

0.9(0.6-1.2)

53

92.0(91.2-92.7)6081

0.7(0.4-0.9)

56

0MT136310View Trend DataDB2008MT13631ExportDB2008MT13631Printer Friendly

SMART City and County DataSelected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk

Trends 2008 - Billings, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area 

Overweight and Obesity (BMI): Weight classification by Body Mass Index (BMI)

BRFSS MAPS

BRFSS MAPS

BRFSS MAPS

WEAT: Web Enabled Analysis Tool

Chronic Disease Indicators

Survey Data & Downloads

Measuring Health RisksDepression

Measuring Health Risks among Adults

• CDC’s BRFSS has helped states survey U.S. adults to gather info on a wide range of behaviors that affect their health:• Not getting enough physical activity• Being overweight• Not using seatbelts• Using tobacco and alcohol• Not getting preventative medical care such as flu

shots, mammograms, pap smears, colorectal cancer screening tests – than can save lives

How does the CDC ensure success?

• CDC works with states to ensure the success of BRFSS• CDC public health advisors provide technical

assistance• CDC epidemiologists help with survey

methodology and data analysis• CDC generates

• household calling lists for each state• Processes survey data• Produces monthly and annual quality assurance reports• Provides on line training

Information tracked State-to-State

Analyzing, interpreting and Using survey Data

• The CDC develops resources to analyze, interpret, and use survey data

• State and local health departments rely on this data from BRFSS to:• Determine high-priority health issues• Detect emerging health issues• Identify populations at highest for illness,

disability, and death according to age, sex, education, income, and race/ethnicity

Analyzing, interpreting and Using survey Data Cont’d

• Develop strategic plans and target prevention activities and programs

• Support community policies and programs that promote health and prevent disease

• Researchers, professional groups, managed care organizations and community-based groups use BRFSS data to develop targeted prevention activities and programs

Versatility of the BRFSS

• Allows state the flexibility to add questions specific to their needs

• BRFSS data can be sued to examine smaller geographic areas within states

• To address urgent and emerging health issues in a particular area

BRFSS in Action

• Addresses the challenges presented by a growing demand for survey data• Keeping phone interviews to a reasonable

length• Increased number of adults interviewed

in each state• Allows states to provide local-level data

and to use split sampling• States can collect BRFSS data on wider

range of topics

How data are being used

• Monitoring the Flu Vaccine Shortage

• Mandating Colorectal Cancer Screening Coverage

• Protecting the Public from Secondhand Smoke

BRFSS and the Future

• State and local areas rely it to gather high-quality data

• CDC is exploring the use of multiple methods to collect BRFSS data• Letters of notification before phone interview• Conducting survey by landline, cell phone, mail and Internet• Finding new ways to reach hard-to-find populations

• Challenge for BRFSS• Managing increasingly complex surveillance system that

serves the need of multiple programs

Example of a State using the BRFSS system - Montana

• Develop the Montana 1997-1999 Diabetes Control Plan

• Assess Immunization rates among respondents with diabetes

• Assess diabetes prevalence rates in Montanan Native Americans

• Monitor public attitudes toward traffic safety issues

• Help develop intervention strategies for HIV prevention of Native Americans

• Develop the Montana Health Agenda and state nutrition plan