The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a collaborative project between all of the states in the United States (US) and participating US territories and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The BRFSS is administered and supported by CDC’s Population Health Surveillance Branch, under the Division of Population Health at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. BRFSS is an ongoing surveillance system designed to measure behavioral risk factors for the non-institutionalized adult population (18 years of age and older) residing in the US.
The BRFSS objective is to collect uniform, state-specific data on preventive health practices and risk behaviors that are linked to chronic diseases, injuries, and preventable infectious diseases that affect the adult population. Factors assessed by the BRFSS in 2013 include tobacco use, HIV/AIDS knowledge and prevention, exercise, immunization, health status, healthy days — health-related quality of life, health care access, inadequate sleep, hypertension awareness, cholesterol awareness, chronic health conditions, alcohol consumption, fruits and vegetables consumption, arthritis burden, and seatbelt use. Since 2011, BRFSS conducts both landline telephone- and cellular telephone-based surveys. In conducting the BRFSS landline telephone survey, interviewers collect data from a randomly selected adult in a household. In conducting the cellular telephone version of the BRFSS questionnaire, interviewers collect data from an adult who participates by using a cellular telephone and resides in a private residence or college housing.
Health characteristics estimated from the BRFSS pertain to the non-institutionalized adult population, aged 18 years or older, who reside in the US.
In 2013, additional question sets were included as optional modules to provide a measure for several childhood health and wellness indicators, including asthma prevalence for people aged 17 years or younger.
References:
• BRFSS web site: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/
• BRFSS Questionnaire (Mandatory and Optional Modules): http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/questionnaires/pdf-ques/2013%20BRFSS_English.pdf
• BRFSS Codebook: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/annual_data/2013/pdf/CODEBOOK13_LLCP.pdf
• BRFSS Guide to Calculated Variables: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/annual_data/2013/pdf/2013_Calculated_Variables_Version15.pdf
• BRFSS Guide to Optional Modules Used, by State: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/BRFSSModules/ModByState.asp?Yr=2013