The BRFSS uses telephone surveys to track risk behaviors related to chronic diseases, injuries and death in the United States. In addition to chronic disease information, the survey also collects data about health-related risk behaviors and use of preventive services.
Deeper dive
BRFSS completes more than 400,000 adult interviews each year, making it the world’s largest ongoing data collection program. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam collect data annually; American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau collect survey data over a limited point-in-time (usually one to three months). The target population for this survey are noninstitutionalized adults ages 18 and older, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
BRFSS was launched in 1984. It is administered and supported by the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By collecting health risk data at the state and local level, BRFSS can be a powerful tool for targeting and building health promotion activities.