NS 210 – Unit 4 Seminar Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

1. NS 210 – Unit 4 SeminarBehavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

2. Welcome to week 4!

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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!

8. Prevalence and Trends (Montana) Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have diabetes? • State Year Category

9. 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)

10. BRFSS MAPS

11. BRFSS MAPS

12. BRFSS MAPS

13. WEAT: Web Enabled Analysis Tool

14. Chronic Disease Indicators

15. Survey Data & Downloads

16. Measuring Health RisksDepression

17. 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

18. 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

19. Information tracked State-to-State

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. How data are being used • Monitoring the Flu Vaccine Shortage • Mandating Colorectal Cancer Screening Coverage • Protecting the Public from Secondhand Smoke

25. 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

26. 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