BRFSS Survey of Potter and Randall County: Introduction and Methods

1. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

2. BRFSS Survey of Potter and Randall County: Introduction and Methods The data presented in this report were gathered from telephone interviews with residents of Potter and Randall County using a questionnaire and survey methods modeled closely on the Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). BRFSS surveys, administered through a federal state partnership, pose questions relating to health status, personal health habits, and the use of preventive health services. The surveys adhere to the highest scientific standards and yield data that policymakers and public health professionals rely on to identify major health risks, design interventions, set performance goals, and measure progress toward those goals.   The final Potter and Randall county BRFSS dataset includes completed interviews with approximately 315 non-institutionalized adult residents. All interviews were conducted during May 2002. Interview subjects were selected in two stages. First, telephone numbers for the geographic region were randomly called until a household was identified. Second, after contacting a household, one household member age 18 years or older was randomly selected for the interview.

3. BRFSS Survey of Potter and Randall County: Introduction and Methods Cont. Prior to analysis, the data were weighted to adjust for unequal probabilities of selection among individuals who live in households with different numbers of telephones and adults. The final data also were poststratified to account for unequal response rates among members of various demographic groups. Weights for the number of adults and telephones in a household were needed because we wanted to make statistically valid inferences about individuals, but we were sampling telephone numbers. Demographic poststratification was applied to make the final data more representative of Potter and Randall county. The outcome of the weighting and poststratification process is that each record in the database represents a known number of individuals in the Potter and Randall county population who share selected household and personal characteristics with the respondent. All statistical analyses included in this report were run on the weighted data using SUDAAN software and are reported with 90 % confidence intervals.

4. BRFSS Survey of Potter and Randall County: Introduction and Methods Cont. Modern telephone survey methods have several advantages that make them a useful tool for health policy makers, including a substantial degree of quality control made possible by computer assisted telephone interviewing systems, their relatively low cost, and a high speed of data collection. The methods used for BRFSS have been evaluated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and participating states for nearly 20 years. The content of survey questions, data collection procedures, and analytical techniques have been carefully developed and refined to improve data quality and reduce the potential for bias. However, BRFSS surveys are not without limitations. As with all telephone surveys, a small number of households without working phones are excluded from the sample. Moreover, BRFSS data are self-reported. Thus, respondents may have a tendency to under-report behaviors that are socially undesirable, unhealthy, or illegal while over-reporting desirable behaviors. Also, the accuracy of self-reported information often depends on the ability of respondents to fully recall past behaviors and health screening results.

5. Potter and Randall County Health Survey Demographic Distribution, Adults, 2002 (with 95% confidence intervals)

6. Potter and Randall County Health SurveyHealth Risk Factors, Texas Adults, 2002 (with 95% confidence intervals)

7. Potter and Randall County Health SurveyHealth Risk Factors, Texas Adults, 2002 (with 95% confidence intervals)

8. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Reports only Fair or Poor General Health

9. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Reports 2 or More Days of Poor Physical Health in the Past 30 Days

10. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Reports 2 or More Days of Poor Mental Health in the Past 30 Days

11. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey No Health Coverage

12. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Had Routine Checkup Within Past Year

13. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Unable to Get Medical Care During Past 12 Months Due to Cost

14. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Ever Told Has High Blood Pressure

15. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Ever Told Has High Blood Cholesterol

16. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Ever Told Has Diabetes

17. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Overweight, Body Mass Index (BMI) Between 25.0-29.9

18. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Obesity, Body Mass Index (BMI) >=30

19. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Current Smoking (Smoked 100 Cigarettes in Entire Life & now Smokes Every Day or Some Days)

20. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Current Use of Smokeless Tobacco

21. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Binge Drinking (5 or More Drinks on an Occasion in the Past 30 Days)

22. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Chronic Drinking

23. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Drunk Driving

24. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey No Flu Shot (age 65+) During the Past 12 Months

25. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey No Leisure Time Physical Activity

26. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey No Mammogram within 2 years (women age 40+)

27. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey No clinical breast exam within 2 years (women age 40+)

28. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey No Pap Smear within 3 years (women age 18+)

29. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Does not take vitamins containing folic acid (women age 18-44)

30. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Less than 5 fruit/vegetable servings per day

31. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Never had a pneumonia vaccination (age 65+)

32. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Owns home N/A

33. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Worries about having enough food for self or family N/A

34. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Does not always use seatbelts

35. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Uses dental floss to clean teeth less than once per day N/A

36. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Does not feel safe in larger community N/A

37. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Considers neighborhood unsafe N/A

38. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey No close friends to help if needed N/A

39. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Does not participate in social groups N/A

40. 2002 Potter and Randall County Health Survey Draws strength and comfort from religious faith N/A

41. BRFSS Contact Information Jimmy Blanton, M.P.Aff., M.A. Coordinator 512-458-7111 x6593 jimmy.blanton@dshs.state.tx.us Program Website: www.dshs.state.tx.us/chs/default.htm