Rehabilitation Dataset Directory: Dataset Profile
Dataset: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
| Basic Information | |
|---|---|
| Dataset Full Name | Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System |
| Dataset Acronym | BRFSS |
| Summary | The BRFSS is designed to monitor risk behaviors related to chronic diseases, injuries and death, identify emerging health problems, establish and track health objectives, and develop and evaluate public health policies and programs. It is an annual cross-sectional telephone-based survey of adults ages 18 and older that provides national, state, and selected county and MSA level data on health risk behaviors, preventive health practices, and health care access primarily related to chronic disease and injury. The survey is conducted by the state health departments with technical and methodological assistance provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The survey is comprised of a core set of questions that all states must include and a set of optional modules that individual states may choose to include. Each optional module focuses on a specific topics such as adult asthma history, anxiety and depression, cardiovascular health, cognitive decline, pre-diabeties, cancer screening, visual impairment and access to eye care. See optional modules by category here: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/questionnaires/ ) |
| Key Terms | Health Risk Behaviors, Chronic Disease, Health Care Access |
| Study Design | Cross-Sectional |
| Data Type(s) |
Survey |
| Sponsoring Agency/Entity | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) | Health Conditions/Disability Measures |
| Health Condition(s) | Arthritis, Asthma, Heart attack, Coronary heart disease, Stroke, Diabetes, Skin cancer, Other cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)/emphysema/chronic bronchitis, Depression, Kidney disease, Other conditions covered in optional modules |
| Disability Measures | ACS 6 question disability series: 2016 - present: Visual disability, Hearing disability, Ambulatory disability, Cognitive disability, Self-care disability, Independent living disability Alternate years core includes: Activity limitation, Special Equipment Use 2013-2015: used above items excluding Hearing Disability question Prior to 2013: Activity limitation, Special Equipment Use |
Measures/Outcomes of Interest |
| Topics | Health status, Health related quality of life, Mental health, Chronic health conditions, Health care access/coverage, Diet, Exercise, Obesity, Tobacco use, E-cigarettes, Alcohol consumption, Immunization, Woman's health, Cancer screening, Diabetes follow-up | Sample |
| Sample Population | Household (Adults ages 18 and older) |
| Sample Size/Notes | 441,456 (2015) persons |
| Unit of Observation | Individual |
| Continent(s) | North America |
| Countries | United States |
| Geographic Coverage | National, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam |
| Geographic Specificity | State, select larger counties and Metropolitan & Micropolitan Statistical Areas (MMSAs) with a minimum of 500 completed interviews (will vary by year) | Data Collection |
| Data Collection Mode | CATI phone based survey (including both land based and cell phones for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico survey as of 2015) Prior to 2011: land based lines only |
| Years Collected | 1994 - present(all states participating) |
| Data Collection Frequency | Annual | Strengths and Limitations |
| Strengths | Unique combination of data on disability, demographics, health issues, behaviors and care. Large sample size and design allows examination of a variety of geographic levels including larger MSAs, cities and counties. Contains questions regarding specific chronic health conditions. Individual states can include optional modules focused on additional health related topics/conditions. |
| Limitations | Current BRFSS data (2011 and later) is not directly comparable to data prior to 2011 due to changes in weighting methodology and the addition of the cell phone sampling frame. Disability related questions have varied over time. Excludes phoneless households. Limited economic indicators. Data analysis must be performed using statistical software packages/procedures such as SUDAAN, SAS, STATA, and SPSS that can account for BRFSS complex sampling design. | Data Details |
| Primary Website | |
| Data Access |
CDC state level data: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/annual_data/annual_data.htm CDC Selected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends (SMART) level BRFSS data: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/smart/smart_data.htm CDC GIS Data and Documentation (2002-2010): |
| Data Access Requirements | Public Use Dataset |
| Summary Tables/Reports | Prevalence Data & Data Analysis Tools: |
| Data Components |
GIS Maps data:
|
Selected Papers |
| Other Papers | |
| Technical | The BRFSS Data User Guide, August 15, 2013: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/data_documentation/pdf/userguidejune2013.pdf http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/data_documentation/statistic_brief.htm Data Analysis considerations/examples for BRFSS complex sampling design : http://www.cdc.gov/copd/pdfs/brfss_copd_syntax.pdf Data Quality, Validity, and Reliability: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/publications/data_qvr.htm Methods, Validity, and Reliability Bibliography: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/publications/mvr.html |