Washington State Department of Health
The Department of Health protects and improves the health of people in Washington State.
Our programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide information to help people make good health decisions and ensure our state is prepared for emergencies. To accomplish all of these, we collaborate with many partners every day.
Our programs and services help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide information to help people make good health decisions and ensure our state is prepared for emergencies. To accomplish all of these, we collaborate with many partners every day.
Organization Contact
Wendi Gilreath
wendi.gilreath@doh.wa.gov
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
The BRFSS is a yearly survey that measures changes in the health of people in the United States. It is the longest continuously running phone survey in the world. This survey is an important source of health-related data. It is the only survey that collects information on certain health factors like tobacco use and insurance coverage.
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The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a telephone survey of adults 18 and older.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established BRFSS in 1984; Washington State joined in 1987. Today, BRFSS operates in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and three territories. A new survey is conducted each year with core questions asked nationwide. States also administer optional questions developed by the CDC as well as state-specific questions. Adults age 18 years and older are eligible to take part in the survey, and are included via random selection of landline and cellular telephone numbers.
Data collected by BRFSS provide statewide and county level estimates of disease rates and behaviors among Washington residents, and are used to track progress toward health objectives, and evaluate public health policies and programs. The survey is a primary source of information about the prevalence of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, cancer, obesity, asthma, mental illness, falls, and disability. Other questions measure mental health, such as depression and cognitive function and health behaviors like tobacco use, alcohol consumption, exercise and nutrition. Access to health care services like immunizations, cancer screenings, HIV tests, preventative care and other questions related to determinants of health and health equity are also included. At times, questions to address emergent health issues, such as respondents' recreational use of marijuana, children's access to H1N1 flu vaccine, and firearm safety have been added to the survey.
Additional information is available at both Washington State Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention websites:
doh.wa.gov
cdc.gov
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention established BRFSS in 1984; Washington State joined in 1987. Today, BRFSS operates in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and three territories. A new survey is conducted each year with core questions asked nationwide. States also administer optional questions developed by the CDC as well as state-specific questions. Adults age 18 years and older are eligible to take part in the survey, and are included via random selection of landline and cellular telephone numbers.
Data collected by BRFSS provide statewide and county level estimates of disease rates and behaviors among Washington residents, and are used to track progress toward health objectives, and evaluate public health policies and programs. The survey is a primary source of information about the prevalence of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, cancer, obesity, asthma, mental illness, falls, and disability. Other questions measure mental health, such as depression and cognitive function and health behaviors like tobacco use, alcohol consumption, exercise and nutrition. Access to health care services like immunizations, cancer screenings, HIV tests, preventative care and other questions related to determinants of health and health equity are also included. At times, questions to address emergent health issues, such as respondents' recreational use of marijuana, children's access to H1N1 flu vaccine, and firearm safety have been added to the survey.
Additional information is available at both Washington State Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention websites:
doh.wa.gov
cdc.gov
Steps Required to Obtain Data
To order BRFSS Data Sets, simply submit a request through the Department of Health website.
Link to order form:
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/opinio/s?s=BRFSSDataOrderForm
Link to order form:
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/opinio/s?s=BRFSSDataOrderForm
On average, how long does it take to access the data?
Orders are usually reviewed and filled within 5 business days.
Category
Population, Public Health & Social Services
Originating Data Source
Other
Respondent Survey
Intended End User
Academia
Business
General Public
Government
Data Type
Raw
Is the data identifiable?
No
Data is Updated
Annually
Free of Charge?
Yes
Access this Data Resource at