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Calendar Year 2002 Results

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

2002 BRFSS Topics for North Carolina

BRFSS 2002 Annual Results Technical Notes

Health Status (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• Would you say that in general your health is:

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Health Care Access (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• Do you have any kind of health care coverage, including health insurance, prepaid plans such as HMOs, or government plans such as Medicare?
• Do you have one person you think of as your personal doctor or health care provider?
• When you are sick or need advice about your health, to which one of the following places do you usually go?
• Was there a time in the past 12 months when you needed medical care, but could not get it?
• What is the main reason you did not get medical care?

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Exercise (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• During the past month, did you participate in any physical activities or exercises such as running, calisthenics, golf, gardening, or walking for exercise?

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Fruits and Vegetables (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• How often do you drink fruit juices such as orange, grapefruit, or tomato?
• Not counting juice, how often do you eat fruit?
• How Often Do You Eat Green Salad?
• How often do you eat potatoes not including French fries, fried potatoes, or potato chips?
• How Often Do You Eat Carrots?
• Not counting carrots, potatoes, or salad, how many servings of vegetables do you usually eat?
• Fruit and Vegetable Consumption per day

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Asthma (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• Did a doctor ever tell you that you had asthma?
• Do you still have asthma?

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Diabetes (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• Have you ever been told by a doctor that you have diabetes?
• How old were you when you were told you have diabetes?
• Are you now taking insulin?
• Are you now taking diabetes pills?
• About how often do you check your blood for glucose or sugar? Include times when checked by a family member or friend, but do not include times when checked by a health professional.
• About how often do you check your feet for any sores or irritations? Include times when checked by a family member or friend, but do not include times when checked by a health professional.
• Have you ever had any sores or irritations on your feet that took more than four weeks to heal?
• About how many times in the last year have you seen a doctor, nurse, or other health professional for your diabetes?
• A test for hemoglobin 'A one C' measures the average level of blood sugar over the past three months. About how many times in the past 12 months has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional checked you for hemoglobin 'A one C'?
• About how many times in the last year has a health professional checked your feet for any sores or irritations?
• When was the last time you had an eye exam in which the pupils were dilated? This would have made you temporarily sensitive to bright light.
• Has a doctor ever told you that diabetes has affected your eyes or that you had retinopathy?
• Have you ever taken a course or class in how to manage your diabetes yourself?

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Oral Health (see results for 2001)

• How long has it been since you last visited a dentist or a dental clinic for any reason?
• How many of your permanent teeth have been removed because of tooth decay or gum disease? Do not include teeth lost for other reasons, such as injury or orthodontics.
• How long has it been since you had your teeth cleaned by a dentist or dental hygienist?

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Immunization (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• During the past 12 months, have you had a flu shot?
• At what kind of place did you get your last flu shot?
• Have you ever had a pneumonia shot? This shot is usually given only once or twice in a person's lifetime and is different from the flu shot. It is also called the pneumococcal vaccine.

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Tobacco Use (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your entire life?
• Do you now smoke cigarettes everyday, some days, or not at all?
• During the past 12 months, have you stopped smoking for one day or longer because you were trying to quit smoking?
• Smoking Status
• Current Smoker

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Alcohol Consumption (see results for 2001)

• A drink of alcohol is 1 can or bottle of beer, 1 glass of wine, 1 can or bottle of wine cooler, 1 cocktail, or 1 shot of liquor.
  During the past 30 days, how many days per week or per month did you have at least one drink of any alcoholic beverage?
• On the days when you drank, about how many drinks did you drink on the average?
• Considering all types of alcoholic beverages, how many times during the past 30 days did you have 5 or more drinks on an occasion?
• During the past 30 days, how many times have you driven when you've had perhaps too much to drink?
• Drinking alcohol in the past 30 days
• Binge Drinking
• Heavy Drinking

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Seat Belts

• How often do you use seatbelts when you drive or ride in a car?

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Family Planning (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• Are you or your husband/wife/partner doing anything now to keep from getting pregnant?
• What are you or your husband/wife/partner doing now to keep from getting pregnant?
• What other method are you also using to prevent pregnancy?
• What is your main reason for not doing anything to keep you/your partner from getting pregnant?

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Women's Health (see results for 2000)

• A mammogram is an x-ray of each breast to look for breast cancer. Have you ever had a mammogram?
• How long has it been since you had your last mammogram?
• Have had a mammogram within the past 2 years
• A clinical breast exam is when a doctor, nurse, or other health professional feels the breast for lumps. Have you ever had a clinical breast exam?
• How long has it been since your last breast exam?
• A Pap smear is a test for cancer of the cervix. Have you ever had a Pap smear?
• How long has it been since you had your last Pap smear?
• Have you had a hysterectomy?

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Prostate Cancer Screening (see results for 2001)

• A Prostate-Specific Antigen test, also called a PSA test, is a blood test used to check men for prostate cancer. Have you ever had a PSA test?
• How long has it been since you had your last PSA test?
• A digital rectal exam is an exam in which a doctor, nurse, or other health professional places a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the size, shape, and hardness of the prostate gland. Have you ever had a digital rectal exam?
• How long has it been since you had your last digital rectal exam?
• Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you had prostate cancer?

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Colorectal Cancer Screening (see results for 2001)

• A blood stool test is a test that may use a special kit at home to determine whether the stool contains blood. Have you ever had this test using a home kit?
• How long has it been since you had your last blood stool test using a home kit?
• Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are exams in which a tube is inserted in the rectum to view the bowel for signs of cancer or other health problems. Have you ever had either of these exams?
• How long has it been since you had your last sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy?

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HIV/AIDS (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• I'm going to read two statements about HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. After I read each one, please tell me whether you think it is true or false, or if you don't know.
  1. A pregnant woman with HIV can get treatment to help reduce the chances that she will pass the virus on to her baby
  2. There are medical treatments available that are intended to help a person who is infected with HIV to live longer.
• How important do you think it is for people to know their HIV status by getting tested? Would you say:
• As far as you know, have you ever been tested for HIV? Do not count tests you may have had as part of a blood donation.
• Not including blood donations, which of these would you say was the main reason for your last HIV test?
• Where did you have the HIV test?
• Have you used intravenous drugs in the past year, been treated for a sexually transmitted or venereal disease in the past year, or given or received money or drugs in exchange for sex in the past year?
• In the past 12 months has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional talked to you about preventing sexually transmitted diseases through condom use?

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Firearms (see results for 2001)

The next three questions are about firearms. We are asking these in a health survey because of our interest in firearm-related injuries. Please include weapons such as pistols, shotguns, and rifles: but not BB guns, starter pistols, or guns that cannot fire. Include those kept in a garage, outdoor storage area, or motor vehicle.

• Are any firearms kept in or around your home?
• Are any of these firearms now loaded? Please include weapons such as pistols, shotguns, and rifles: but not BB guns, starter pistols, or guns that cannot fire. Include those kept in a garage, outdoor storage area, or motor vehicle.
• Are any of these loaded firearms also unlocked? By "unlocked" we mean you do not need a key or combination to get the gun or to fire it. We don't count a safety as a lock.

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Healthy Days

• Now thinking about your physical health, which includes physical illness and injury, for how many days during the past 30 days was your physical health not good?
• Now thinking about your mental health, which includes stress, depression, and problems with emotions, for how many days during the past 30 days was your mental health not good?
• During the past 30 days, for about how many days did poor physical or mental health keep you from doing your usual activities, such as self-care, work, or recreation?

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Adult Asthma History

• How old were you when you were first told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that you had asthma?
• During the past 12 months, have you had an episode of asthma or an asthma attack?
• During the past 12 months, how many times did you visit an emergency room or urgent care center because of your asthma?
• (Besides those emergency room visit) During the past 12 months, how many times did you see a doctor, nurse or other health professional for urgent treatment of worsening asthma symptoms?
• During the past 12 months, how many times did you see a doctor, nurse or other health professional for a routine checkup for your asthma?
• During the past 12 months, how many days were you unable to work or carry out your usual activities because of your asthma?
• Symptoms of asthma include cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and phlegm production when you don't have a cold or respiratory infection. During the past 30 days, how often did you have any symptoms of asthma?
• During the past 30 days, how many days did symptoms of asthma make it difficult for you to stay asleep?
• During the past 30 days how often did you take asthma medication that was prescribed or given to you by a doctor? This includes using an inhaler.

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Childhood Asthma

• Earlier you said there were/was child/ren age 17 or younger living in your household. How many of these children have ever been diagnosed with asthma?
• Does this child/How many of these children still have asthma?

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Arthritis (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• During the past 30 days, have you had any symptoms of pain, aching, or stiffness in or around a joint?
• Did your joint symptoms first begin more than 3 months ago?
• Have you ever seen a doctor or other health professional for these joint symptoms?
• Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you have some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia (See Questionnaire for Complete List)?
• Are you now limited in any way in any of your usual activities because of arthritis or joint symptoms?
• In this next question we are referring to work for pay. Do arthritis or joint symptoms now affect whether you work, the type of work you do or the amount of work you do?

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Physical Activity (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• When you are at work, which of the following best describes what you do? Would you say:
• Now, thinking about the moderate physical activities you do when you are not working (if employed or self-employed) in a usual week, do you do moderate activities for at least 10 minutes at a time, such as brisk walking, bicycling, vacuuming, gardening, or anything else that causes small increases in breathing or heart rate?
• How many days per week do you do these moderate activities for at least 10 minutes at a time?
• On days when you do moderate activities for at least 10 minutes at a time, how much total time per day do you spend doing these activities?
• Now thinking about the vigorous physical activities you do (when you are not working, if employed or self-employed) in a usual week, do you do vigorous activities for at least 10 minutes at a time, such as running, aerobics, heavy yard work, or anything else that causes large increases in breathing or heart rate?
• How many days per week do you do these vigorous activities for at least 10 minutes at a time?
• On days when you do vigorous activities for at least 10 minutes at a time, how much total time per day do you spend doing these activities?
• Moderate Physical Activity
• Vigorous Physical Activity
• Leisure Time Physical Activity
• Physical Activity Recommendation Status

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Weight Control (see results for 2000)

• Are you now trying to lose weight?
• Are you now trying to maintain your current weight, that is to keep from gaining weight?
• Managing current weight: lose, maintain or do neither?
• Are you eating either fewer calories or less fat to lose weight or keep from gaining weight?
• Are you using physical activity or exercise to lose weight or keep from gaining weight?
• In the past 12 months, has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional given you advice about your weight?
• Body Mass Index Grouping-Underweight, Recommended Range, Overweight and Obese*

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Tobacco Indicators (see results for 2001)

• How old were you the first time you smoked a cigarette, even one or two puffs?
• How old were you when you first started smoking cigarettes regularly?
• About how long has it been since you last smoked cigarettes regularly?
• In the past 12 months, have you seen a doctor, nurse, or other health professional to get any kind of care for yourself?
• In the past 12 months, has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional advised you to quit smoking?
• Which statement best describes the rules about smoking inside your home?
• Which of the following best describes your place of works' official smoking policy for indoor public or common areas, such as lobbies, rest rooms, and lunchrooms?
• Which of the following best describes your place of works' official smoking policy for work areas?
• Worksites prohibit smoking in both public and work areas

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Diabetes Counseling

• In the last 12 months, did a doctor, nurse or other health professional give you advice about your weight to control your diabetes?
• Has a doctor, nurse or other health professional talked with you about exercise or physical activity to control your diabetes?

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NC Physical Activity

• What type of physical activity or exercise did you spend the most time doing during the past month?
• What other type of physical activity gave you the next most exercise during the past month?
• In the past week, how much time did you spend walking or bicycling for transportation, such as to and from work or shopping?
• Please indicate which of the following apply to your neighborhood. Do you have SIDEWALKS?
• Please indicate which of the following apply to your neighborhood. Do you have WALKING, JOGGING OR BIKING TRAIL?
• Please indicate which of the following apply to your neighborhood. Do you have HEAVY TRAFFIC?
• Please indicate which of the following apply to your neighborhood. Do you have UNATTENDED DOGS?
• How safe from crime do you consider your neighborhood to be? Would you say:

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Cancer Prevalence see results for 2001)

• Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you had cancer?
• What type of cancer was/is it?
  • Prostate:
  • Breast:
  • Colorectal:
  • Skin:
  • Other:

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Disability (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• Are you limited in any way in any activities because of physical, mental, or emotional problems?
• Do you now have any health problem that requires you to use special equipment, such as a cane, a wheelchair, a special bed, or a special telephone?
• A disability can be physical, mental, emotional, or communication related. Do you consider yourself to have a disability?
• Because of any impairment or health problem, do you have any trouble learning, remembering, or concentrating?
• Because of any impairment or health problem, do you need the help of other persons with your PERSONAL CARE needs, such as eating, bathing, dressing, or getting around the house?
• Because of any impairment or health problem, do you need the help of other persons in handling your ROUTINE NEEDS, such as everyday household chores, doing necessary business, shopping, or getting around for other purposes?
• Disability Status

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Routine Checkup

• About how long has it been since you last visited a doctor for a routine checkup?

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Sexual Assault/Physical Violence (see results for 2000 or 2001)

• Has a stranger ever forced you to have sex or to do sexual things?
• Has a partner or ex-partner ever forced you to have sex or to do sexual things? By partner, I mean your current or (ex-husband/wife) or (boyfriend/girlfriend).
• Has someone you knew, not including a partner or ex-partner, ever forced you to have sex or to do sexual things?
• Ever Sexually Assaulted
• Has a stranger ever pushed, hit, slapped, kicked, or physically hurt you in any other way?
• Has a partner or ex-partner ever pushed, hit, slapped, kicked, or physically hurt you in another way? By partner, I mean your current or ex-(husband/wife) or (boyfriend/girlfriend).
• Has someone you knew, not including a partner or ex-partner, ever pushed, hit, slapped, kicked, or physically hurt you in any other way?
• Ever Physically Assaulted

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Reaction to Race

• How do OTHER PEOPLE usually classify you in this country. Would you say White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaska Native, multiracial or some other group?
• How often do you think about your race? Would you say never, once a year, once a month, once a week, once a day, once an hour, or constantly?
• Within the past 12 months at work, do you feel you were treated worse than, the same as, or better than people of other races?
• Within the past 12 months when seeking health care, do you feel your experiences were worse than, the same as, or better than for people of other races?
• Within the past 30 days, have you felt emotionally upset, for example angry, sad, or frustrated, as a result of how you were treated based on your race?
• Within the past 30 days, have you experienced any physical symptoms, for example headache, an upset stomach, tensing of your muscles, or a pounding heart, as a result of how you were treated based on your race?

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Risk Factors and Derived Responses (see results for 2001)

• Body Mass Index Grouping-Underweight, Recommended Range, Overweight and Obese
• Overweight or Obese
• Smoking Status
• Current Smoker
• Worksites prohibit smoking in both public and work areas
• Managing current weight: lose, maintain or do neither?
• Binge Drinking
• Heavy Drinking
• Moderate Physical Activity
• Vigorous Physical Activity
• Leisure Time Physical Activity
• Physical Activity Recommendation Status
• Fruit and Vegetable Consumption per day
• Have had a mammogram within the past 2 years (Women age 40 +)
• Disability Status
• Ever Sexually Assaulted
• Ever Physically Assaulted

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