The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
Study Number	S01_84 - S01_95
Background of Dataset
Purpose of the Data Set	The objective of the BRFSS is to use uniform procedures to collect state-specific data on preventative health practices and risk behaviors associated with chronic diseases, injuries, and preventive infectious diseases.
Criteria(s) for Inclusion/Exclusion	The target population is the civilian, noninstitutionalized population, age 18 years and older.
Age Range Included	18 years and older.
Method(s) of Data Gathering	The survey is conducted monthly in each state during a two week period. Health departments may start later than the first day but are expected to complete calls within the specified time period. In 1984 all states conducted interviews using a paper questionnaire. By 1995, 7 states used paper questionnaires, but most used a computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CAT1) software program.
Sampling Frame/Design	Adult respondents are selected randomly from households with telephones. In most states, the sample is selected using a multistage cluster design procedure based on the Waksberg method.
Limitation(s) of Study	Statistical issues, telephone interview issues, and self report issues.
Year(s) Available	1984-1995.
Number of Observations	Ranges from 12,258 - 66,5536.
Unit of Observation	Person.
Publisher	Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Contact Information/Web Address	www.cdc.gov/brfss/technical_infodata/surveydata.htm
Condition of Use	Publicly Available.
Contents of Database
Key Linking Variables
•Patient identifier
•Physician identifier
•Health facility identifier
•Geographic identifier	State.
•Other identifier
Demographics Information
•Sex	Yes.
•Race	Yes.
•Geographic location	State.
•Income	Yes.
•Education	Yes.
•Employment status	Yes.
•Others	Gender, marital status, number and age of children in household, height, weight, county and number of residential phones.
Access/Utilization Information
Unit of Utilization	Yes.
Source of Information
•Self reported	Yes.
•Parent
•Medical provider
•Billing/encounters
•Other source
Health Insurance Information	Yes.
•Insurance status	Yes. If none, how long without it.
•Insurance type	Yes.
•Other information
Health Care Utilization	Yes.
>Type
1) Outpatient
•Date of visits	Yes.
•Number of visits
•Referrals information
•Specialty visits
•Other outpatient utilization	Usual source of care; received preventive services.
2) Inpatient
•Admission/discharge dates
•Number of admissions
•Length of stay
•Admission status (transfer, ER      admissions...etc)
•Discharge status
•Other information
3) Emergency room
•Date of visits
•Number of visits
•Other information
4) Pharmacy
•Date of prescription
•Drug information
•Other information
5) Other utilization	Yes.
•Home care services
•Long term care
•Other services
>Medical Codes
•CPT codes
•ICD-9 codes
•DRG codes
•Other codes
Health Care Facility Information	N/A
Physician Information	N/A
Cost/Expenditure Information
•Unit of cost
•Charges/costs/payments
•Total
•Allied and additional services
•Pharmacy
•Out-of-pocket payments	Whether or not health care costs has ever prevented a trip to the doctors.
•Other information
Other Information
•Health status, hypertension awareness, cholesterol awareness, diabetes, injury control, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, women's health, immunization, colorectal cancer screening, HIV/AIDS optional other information: smokeless tobacco use, fruit and vegetable consumption, diabetes, excercise, weight control, years of healthy life, quality of life, health care utilization, oral health, firearms.