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Calendar Year 2004 Results

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

2004 BRFSS Topics for Union County

BRFSS 2004 Annual Results Technical Notes

Health Status

• Would you say that in general your health is:

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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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Health Care Access

• Do you have any kind of health care coverage, including health insurance, prepaid plans such as HMOs, or government plans such as Medicare?
• Health Insurance Coverage -Age Under 65
• Health Insurance Coverage for Those Employed for Wages (Age under 65)
• Do you have one person you think of as your personal doctor or health care provider?
• Was there a time during the last 12 months when you needed to see a doctor, but could not because of the cost?

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Exercise

• 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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Environmental Factors

• Things like dust, mold, smoke, and chemicals inside the home or office can cause poor indoor air quality. In the past 12 months have you had an illness or symptom that you think was caused by something in the air inside a home, office, or other building?
• Things like smog, automobile exhaust, and chemicals can cause outdoor air pollution. In the past 12 months have you had an illness or symptom that you think was caused by pollution in the air outdoors?

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Excess Sun Exposure

• The next question is about sunburns, including any time that even a small part of your skin was red for more than 12 hours. Have you had a sunburn within the past 12 months?
• Including times when even a small part of your skin was red for more than 12 hours, how many sunburns have you had within the past 12 months?

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Tobacco Use

• 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

• 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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Asthma

• Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you had asthma?
• Do you still have asthma?

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Diabetes

• 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 past 12 months 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

• 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

• During the past 12 months, have you had a flu shot?
• During the past 12 months, have you had a flu vaccine that was sprayed in your nose?
• 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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Women's Health

• 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?
• 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?
• Have had a mammogram within the past 2 years (Women age 40 +)
• Have had a mammogram within the past 2 years and a clinical breast exam within a year(Women age 40 +)
• 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?
• Women ages 21 + who had a Pap Smear in the last 3 years?
• Have you had a hysterectomy?

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Prostate Cancer Screening

• 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

• 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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Family Planning

• Are you or your husband/wife/partner doing anything now to keep from getting pregnant? Some things people do to keep from getting pregnant include not having sex at certain times, using birth control methods such as the pill, Norplant, shots or Depo-provera, condoms, diaphragm, foam, IUD, having their tubes tied, or having a vasectomy.(If multiple partners consider usual method.)
• What are you or your husband/wife/partner doing now to keep from getting pregnant?
• What is your main reason for not doing anything to keep you/your partner from getting pregnant?
• How do you feel about having a child now or sometime in the future? Would you say:
• How soon would you want to have a child? Would you say:

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Disability

• 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?
• Disability Status

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HIV/AIDS

• 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.
• Have you ever been tested for HIV? Do not count tests you may have had as part of a blood donation.
• In the past 12 months, how many times have you been tested for HIV, including times you did not get your results.
• Where did you have your last HIV test-at a private doctor or HMO office, at a counseling and testing site, at a hospital, at a clinic, in a jail or prison, at home, or somewhere else?
• What type of clinic did you go to for your last HIV test?
• Was this test done by a nurse or ohter health worker, or with a home testing kit?
• 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

• 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.
  1. Are any firearms kept in or around your home?
  2. Are any of these firearms now loaded?
  3. 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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Sexual Behavior

• During the past twelve months, with how many people have you had sexual intercourse?
• Was a condom used the last time you had sexual intercourse?
• The last time you had sexual intercourse, was the condom used…
• Some people use condoms to keep from getting infected with HIV through sexual activity. How effective do you think a properly use condom is for this purpose?
• How many new sex partners did you have during the past twelve months?
• In the past five years, have you been treated for a sexually transmitted or venereal disease?
• Were you treated at a health department STD clinic?

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Folic Acid

• Do you currently take any vitamin pills or supplements?
• Are any of these a multivitamin?
• Do any of the vitamin pills or supplements you take contain folic acid?
• Some health experts recommend that women take 400 micrograms of the B vitamin folic acid, for which of the following reasons....
• Taking multivitamins or vitamin pills/supplements containing folic acid
• Daily taking multivitamins or vitamin pills/supplements containing folic acid
• Currently taking multivitamins or vitamin pills/supplements containing folic acid-FEMALES, Age 18-44
• Daily consumption of multivitamins or vitamin pills/supplements containing folic acid-FEMALES, Age 18-44

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Other Tobacco Products

• Have you ever used or tried any smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco or snuff?
• Do you currently use chewing tobacco or snuff every day, some days, or not at all?
• Do you currently use any tobacco products other than cigarettes, such as cigars, pipes, bidis, kreteks, or any other tobacco product?

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Smoking Cessation

• About how long has it been since you last smoked cigarettes regularly?
• In the last 12 months, how many times have you seen a doctor, nurse or other health professional to get any kind of care for yourself?
• In the last 12 months, on how many visits were you advised to quit smoking by a doctor or other health provider?
• On how many visits did your doctor, nurse or other health professional recommend or discuss medication to assist you with quitting smoking, such as nicotine gum, patch, nasal spray, inhaler, lozenge, or prescription medication such as Wellbutrin/Zyban/Buproprion?
• On how many visits did your doctor or health provider recommend or discuss methods and strategies other than medication to assist you with quitting smoking?

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Secondhand Smoke Policy

• Which statement best describes the rules about smoking inside your home?
• While working at your job, are you indoors most of the time?
• 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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Health Care Cost ⁄ Under-Insurance

• About how much money does your household pay monthly for health insurance premiums (this would include any amount your household pays for health insurance either directly or taken out of paychecks)?
• Excluding insurance premiums, in the past year, what would you estimate your family%'s out-of-pocket healthcare costs have been?
• Did your household take a tax deduction for health care expenses in the last federal tax return your household filed?
• What do you think your household has had to give up in the last year to pay health care costs?
• In the past year, did you or another family member in your household have any problems paying medical bills?
• In the past year, have you or anyone living in your household been contacted by a collection agency about owing money for medical bills?

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Diabetes Screening

• Have you ever had a blood test for high sugar or diabetes?
• How long has it been since you had your last blood test for high sugar or diabetes?

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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?
• Urine tests for protein (microalbuminuria test) check if your kidneys are working properly. When was the last time that you received a urine test for protein?
• During the past 12 months, was there any time that you did not have testing supplies(strips, lancets, meter) or diabetes medicines due to lack of money?

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Skin Cancer Prevention

• In the past 12 months, have you tried to get a tan using a tanning lamp or tanning machine, whether it was at a tanning salon, at your home, or elsewhere?
• In the past 12 months, have you tried to get a tan from the sun?
• When you're outdoors during the summer for at least half an hour, how often do you protect your skin from the sun, such as by using sunscreens or sunblock or wearing hats or protective clothing? Would you say:
• Earlier you said you had child/children under age 18. Are any of the child/children under age 13?
• When the youngest child in your household is outdoors during the summer for at least half an hour, how often does s/he stay in an area protected by shade?
• When you are outdoors during the summer for at least half an hour, how often do you stay in the shade?
• When the youngest child in your household is outdoors during the summer for at least half an hour, how often do you stay in the shade?
• Has the youngest child in your household had a sunburn within the past 12 months? By sunburn, I mean reddening of the skin that lasted at least 12 hours.

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Prostate Cancer Counseling

• Has a doctor of other health professional ever talked with you about having any kind of screening test or exam to check for prostate cancer?

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Quit Now NC

• On the average, about how many cigarettes a day do you now smoke?
• How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Smoking light cigarettes is safer than smoking regular cigarettes.
• Do you usually smoke regular, lights, or ultra lights?
• Are you aware of Quit Now NC smoking cessation phone lines or Quit Now websites?
• If yes, how did you hear of the Quit Now NC smoking cessation services?
• Have you called Quit Now NC or used the Quit websites?

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Tobacco Use Prevention

• States add a special tax to cigarettes. The national average is $0.59. and the NC tax is 5 cents. How much additional tax on a pack of cigarettes would you be willing to support if a considerable portion of the money raised was used to fund smoking prevention programs for our youth and provide treatment options for tobacco users who want to quit?
• If someone were smoking near you in the nonsmoking area of a restaurant, you would:
• In the past 12 months, have you ever asked a stranger not to smoke around you, in order to avoid exposure to their tobacco smoke?
• How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement. Tobacco use by adults should not be allowed on school grounds or at any school events.
• In the indoor dining area of restaurants, do you think that smoking should be allowed in all areas, some areas, or not allowed at all?
• Not including yourself, how many adults who live in your household smoke cigarettes, cigars or pipes?
• In the following locations, do you think that smoking should be allowed in all areas, some areas, or not allowed at all
  1. Public Buildings
  2. Bowling Alleys
  3. Grocery Stores
  4. Convenience Stores
  5. Indoor sporting events or concerts

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Aging & Caregiving

• People may provide regular care or assistance to an older adult who has a long-term illness or disability. During the past month, did you provide any such care or assistance to a family member or friend who is 60 years of age or older?
• Did that person have a problem with memory loss or confusion or a disorder like Alzheimer's Disease?

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Winner's Circle

• Are you aware of the Winner%'s Circle Healthy Dining Program as identified with a purple star and fork logo in restaurants, schools, convenience markets, worksite, vending machines and other places that you eat away from home?
• How did you hear of the Winner%'s Circle Healthy Eating Program?
• Have you used the Winner%'s Circle purple star and fork logo to choose a healthy meal or item when eating away from home?

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Risk Factors and Derived Responses

• Body Mass Index Grouping-Underweight, Recommended Range, Overweight and Obese
• Overweight or Obese
• Health Insurance Coverage -Age Under 65
• Health Insurance Coverage for Those Employed for Wages (Age under 65)
• Smoking Status
• Current Smoker
• Binge Drinking
• Heavy Drinking
• Have had a mammogram within the past 2 years (Women age 40 +)
• Have had a mammogram within the past 2 years and a clinical breast exam within a year (Women age 40 +)
• Women ages 21 + who had a Pap Smear in the last 3 years?
• Disability Status
• Taking multivitamins or vitamin pills/supplements containing folic acid
• Daily taking multivitamins or vitamin pills/supplements containing folic acid
• Currently taking multivitamins or vitamin pills/supplements containing folic acid-FEMALES, Age 18-44
• Daily consumption of multivitamins or vitamin pills/supplements containing folic acid-FEMALES, Age 18-44
• Worksites prohibit smoking in both public and work areas

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