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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)?
  2. How is the BRFSS conducted?
  3. How are BRFSS data weighted? And what post-stratification variables are used when weighting BRFSS data?
  4. Who is interviewed?
  5. What type of information does the BRFSS collect?
  6. Is the information collected from each individual made public?
  7. How are BRFSS data collected?
  8. What are the components of the BRFSS questionnaire?
  9. What is done with the information collected?
  10. How are new questions added to the BRFSS questionnaire?
  11. If a local organization or agency wants to include questions on the BRFSS, how is this done?
  12. Where can I find out more about BRFSS and the ways its data are used?
  13. If I have questions about BRFSS, is there someone I may contact?

1. What is the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)?
 The BRFSS is a state-based system of telephone surveys that gathers information about health, health risk behaviors, preventive practices, and health care access and use of adults aged 18 and older.

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2. How is the BRFSS conducted?
 The BRFSS is a cross-sectional, continually-ongoing telephone survey conducted by states, with technical and methodological assistance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Every year, states conduct monthly telephone surveys using a questionnaire developed collaboratively by states and the CDC. Monthly data are aggregated for each state and sent to CDC for weighting. The datasets are returned to the states at the end of each year for further data analyses.

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3. How are BRFSS data weighted? And what post-stratification variables are used when weighting BRFSS data?
 BRFSS data are directly weighted for the probability of selection of a telephone number, the number of adults in a household, and the number of telephones in a household. A final post-stratification adjustment is made for nonresponse and noncoverage of households without telephones. The weights for each relevant factor are multiplied together to get a final weight. Please visit the CDC’s Technical Documentation for further details.

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4. Who is interviewed?
 Adults 18 years or older are asked to take part in the survey. Only one adult is interviewed per household in a randomized selection process once the telephone number is verified as a residential working phone number. Participants are not compensated.

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5. What type of information does the BRFSS collect?
 BRFSS interviewers ask questions related to behaviors that are associated with preventable chronic diseases, injuries, infectious diseases, and other health-related topics. General demographic information such as age, race, income, education, disability status, and sex are also collected.

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6. Is the information collected from each individual made public?
 Absolutely not! There is no personally-identifiable information associated with the respondent’s answers. A fundamental principle of BRFSS is protecting the respondent’s answers. Ensuring that the participant’s responses are not associated in any way with the person is taken seriously. Answers to BRFSS questions are aggregated which means that all the information is rolled-up into one so no individual person’s data can be traced back to a particular person. Even the telephone number called is not included in the dataset so that answers cannot be connected to a specific person or telephone number.

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7. How are BRFSS data collected?
 Information is collected through telephone interviews throughout the survey year. A set of randomly generated phone numbers are produced at least four times per year, and the phone numbers are first called to verify if they are residential or a business phone number. If residential, a randomly selected adult in the household is asked to participate or set an appointment with the interviewer to call back to speak with that individual at a particular time. This can result in repeat phone calls to the household in order to get the appropriate (randomly selected) adult to participate.

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8. What are the components of the BRFSS questionnaire?
 The BRFSS questionnaire has three parts: (1) the Core component, (2) Optional modules, and (3) State-added questions. All states must ask the core component questions without modification in wording; however, the optional modules can be modified. Core sections and possibly “emergency issues” are the only ones supported financially by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Optional modules or state-added questions are included on the questionnaire at a cost determined by the BRFSS Coordinator and Director and paid for by the requestor.

Fixed core questions are asked every year. Rotating core questions are asked every other year. Emerging core questions typically focus on “late-breaking” health issues. These questions are evaluated at the end of a survey year to determine if they are valuable. If the state BRFSS coordinators decide to keep the questions, they are added to the fixed core, rotating core, or optional modules, whichever is most appropriate. All states must ask all core questions.

The optional modules are standardized questions that are supported by the CDC that cover additional health topics or are more detailed questions on a health topic included in the core. Each year states must choose which optional modules they will use based on the data needs of their state.

“Emergency Issues” may also be included in the BRFSS survey on an as-needed basis. For example, a nationwide state-based survey, BRFSS was able to mobilize in October 2004 and field 4 months of additional flu vaccination questions in order to assess the nationwide flu vaccine shortage posed during the this time period.

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9. What is done with the information collected?
 BRFSS information is used to identify emerging health problems, establish and track health objectives, develop, implement, and evaluate a broad array of disease prevention activities, and support health-related legislative efforts. The About BRFSS section describes in greater detail the various ways in which Montana has used the BRFSS data to assist in helping create a healthier populace. An example is the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ strategic plan (Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan – SCORP) which used BRFSS information to find out the type and frequency of residents’ primary recreational activity, habits and preferences, disability issues, and other pertinent issues relevant to state parks strategic planning by Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

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10. How are new questions added to the BRFSS questionnaire?
 The content of the BRFSS questionnaire is determined by the state BRFSS coordinators and the CDC. Each year, the state coordinators may choose to add new questions based on proposals submitted before the annual BRFSS conference. Each proposal requires a rationale supporting the questions. If questions are approved by the state BRFSS coordinators, the questions then go through technical review, cognitive testing, and field testing before being placed on the questionnaire.

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11. If a local organization or agency wants to include questions on the BRFSS, how is this done?
 There is an established process for including state-added questions to the BRFSS. All requests for additional data items must be submitted electronically to the state BRFSS Coordinator in July of the year preceding the upcoming year’s BRFSS survey. Visit the MT Working Group page for more detail and to download the Criteria and Procedures for Addition of Data Items brochure.

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12. Where can I find out more about BRFSS and the ways its data are used?
 On this site, you will find a rich variety of reports, publications, fact sheets, and even access BRFSS data itself in the Results section.   Another area to visit is the Links section where you’ll find numerous resources (online and PDFs) that involve BRFSS data. For example, there are direct links to the Centers for Diseases and Control BRFSS data, links to other state’s BRFSS information, as well as links to organizations and agencies which have utilized BRFSS data.

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13. If I have questions about BRFSS, is there someone I may contact?
 Yes! The person to contact is the state BRFSS coordinator. Visit the Contact Info page to find a variety of ways to get in touch with the coordinator.

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