22000077 GGeeoorrggiiaa PPrrooggrraamm SSuummmmaarryy:: Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a system of telephone surveys that gathers information about chronic conditions, risk behaviors and preventive practices. BRFSS is the largest telephone-based surveillance system in the world. Georgia has collected this data since 1984. QUESTIONNAIRE TOPICS* Chronic Conditions Obesity Diabetes High blood pressure Disability Asthma Heart disease Arthritis Risk Factors Cigarette smoking Binge drinking No physical activity Eating too few fruits and vegetables Frequent mental distress No health insurance Loaded, unlocked firearms in the home Preventive Practices Mammogram Pap test Flu and pneumonia shots Prostate cancer screening Colorectal cancer screening HIV testing Cholesterol screening * list is not exhaustive BRFSS GROWTH 1984 completed interviews = 560 2006 completed interviews = 7,560 Sample Size, Georgia BRFSS 1984-2006 9000 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 Year WHY IS BRFSS IMPORTANT? Provides behavioral data for state and district health program planning Highlights differences/disparities between demographic groups Displays the size of a health problem Allows comparisons to other states and to national health objectives Identifies emerging health problems RECENT UPDATES TO THE SYSTEM Pre-notification letters are sent to potential respondents before interview attempt Sub-state BRFSS results are available for the first time on the web http://167.193.156.131:7168/oasis/brfss/qryBRFSS.aspx Collaborations with partners continue such as Epilepsy Foundation, Prevent Blindness Georgia Public health district stratification began in 2000 to produce more localized estimates Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health 2 Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 657-3103 ga-brfss@dhr.state.ga.us http://health.state.ga.us THE STATE OF GEORGIA'S HEALTH 2006 Mammogram, Within Past Two Years (Women, Ages 40 years) : 79% Target : 70% Healthy People 2010 Objective Sigmoidoscopy, Ever Had (Ages 50 years) : 57% Target : 50% Healthy People 2010 Objective Adults ages 65+ receiving influenza immunization: Ranked 43 out of 53* Adults ages 65+ receiving pneumonia vaccination: Ranked 42 out of 53* Obese adults: Ranked 12 out of 53* Men 40+ who have had a prostate cancer test (Prostate-Specific Antigen or PSA) within the past 2 years (2004): Ranked 7 out of 53* *50 States + District of Columbia + territories = 53; where 1=best and 53=worst SAMPLE PUBLICATIONS USING GEORGIA BRFSS Places to Walk: Convenience and Regular Physical Activity. American Journal of Public Health, 2003 Sep;93(9): 1519-21. Prevalence of epilepsy and health status of adults with epilepsy in Georgia and Tennessee: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002. Epilepsy & Behavior. 2004 Jun;5(3):358366. Validity and Reliability of Self-Reported Arthritis: Georgia Senior Centers, 2000-2001. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2005 Apr;28(3):251-258. Overweight and Obese Adults in Georgia: Prevalence, Weight Control Practices, and Advice from Health Professionals. Journal of the Medical Association of Georgia 2001 Oct:26-29. PePrecrecnetnt USING DATA TO HIGHLIGHT DIFFERENCES Prevalence of Selected Positive Behavioral Factors by Education Level, Georgia, 2006 Percent Less than high school Some college 10 0 High School Grad College Grad 80 60 40 20 0 Mammography Pap Test Flu Shot Pneumo Vaccination Prevalence of Selected Negative Behavioral Risk Factors by Education Level, Georgia, 2006 Percent 50 40 30 20 10 0 Obesity Diabetes Smoking No Leisure Time Physical Activ ity No Health Insurance Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking by Race, Georgia 1995 - 2006 50 White Black 40 30 20 10 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 "Surveillance is the collection of data for public health action" - Principles and Practice of Public Health Surveillance Date created: July 2007 Publication Number: DPH07/113HW Visit: http://www.health.state.ga.us/epi/brfss/publications.asp or http://www.health.state.ga.us/publications/reports.asp to view annual Georgia BRFSS reports. Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health 2 Peachtree Street, NW Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 657-3103 ga-brfss@dhr.state.ga.us http://health.state.ga.us