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Calendar Year 2006 Results

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

2006 BRFSS Topics for Guilford County

BRFSS 2006 Annual Results Technical Notes

Health Status (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• Would you say that in general your health is:

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Healthy Days (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• 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 (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• 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 -Less than age 65
• Health Insurance Coverage for Those Employed for Wages (Less than age 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?
• About how long has it been since you last visited a doctor for a routine checkup?

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Exercise (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

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

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Diabetes (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• 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 (see results for 2001, 2002, 2004)

• 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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Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence (see results for 2001, 2003, 2005)

• Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional ever told you that you had a heart attack, also called a myocardial infarction?
• Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional ever told you that you had angina or coronary heart disease?
• Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional ever told you that you had a stroke?
• History of Any Cardiovascular Diseases (heart attack or coronary heart disease or stroke)

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Asthma (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• 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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Disability (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• 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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Tobacco Use (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• 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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Veteran's Status

• Have you ever served on active duty in the United States Armed Forces,
  either in the regular military or in a National Guard or military reserve unit?

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Alcohol Consumption (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• During the past 30 days, have you had at least one drink of any alcoholic beverage such as beer, wine, a malt beverage, or 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?
• One drink is equivalent to a 12 ounce beer, a 5 ounce glass of wine, or a drink with one shot of liquor.
  During the past 30 days, 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, what is the largest number of drinks you had on any occasion?
• Binge Drinking
• Heavy Drinking

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Immunization (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• 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?
• Have you ever had a pneumonia shot?
• Have you ever received the hepatitis B vaccine?
• Engaged in one or more risk behaviors that can lead to hepatitis B infection.

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Falls (see results for 2003)

• In the past 3 months, how many times have you fallen?
• How many of these falls caused an injury?

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Seatbelt Use (see results for 2002)

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

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Drinking & Driving

• During the past 30 days, how many times have you driven when you've had perhaps too much to drink?

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Women's Health (see results for 2002, 2004)

• 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 (Women age 50 +)
• 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 18+ who had a Pap Smear in the last 3 years?
• Have you had a hysterectomy?

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Prostate Cancer Screening (see results for 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005)

• 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, 2002, 2004, 2005)

• 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 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• Have you ever been tested for HIV? Do not count tests you may have had as part of a blood donation.
• Where did you have the HIV test?
• Was it a rapid test where you could get your results within a couple of hours? (Results not presented due to small numbers.)

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Emotional Support and Life Satisfaction (see results for 2001, 2005)

• How often do you get the social and emotional support you need?
• In general, how satisfied are you with your life?

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Adult Asthma History (see results for 2002, 2005)

• Results not presented due to small numbers.

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Folic Acid (see results for 2001, 2004)

• 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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Secondhand Smoke Policy (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• 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 lunch rooms?
• 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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Periodic Breast Screening

• Since your most recent mammogram, How long before THAT mammogram was the last one?
• Was your mammogram done to check a possible problem?

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Prostate Cancer Counseling (see results for 2004)

• 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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Diabetes Control (see results for 2002, 2004, 2005)

• A special urine test is used to detect protein or albumin and tells if your kidneys are working properly.
  When was the last time that you received a urine test for protein?
• Has a doctor ever told you that diabetes has affected your kidneys?
• 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? (Results not presented due to small numbers.)
• In the last year, have you had a hospitalization or emergency visit because of your diabetes?

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Other Tobacco Products (see results for 2001, 2004)

• 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 (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• 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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Quit Now NC (see results for 2004, 2005)

• On the average, about how many cigarettes a day do you now smoke?
• 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? (Results not presented due to small numbers.)

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Tobacco Use Prevention (see results for 2003, 2004, 2005)

• States add a special tax to cigarettes. The national average is $0.84 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?
• 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?
• 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. Convenience Stores
  3. Indoor sporting events or concerts
• Not including yourself, how many adults who live in your household smoke cigarettes, cigars or pipes?

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Skin Cancer Prevention

• Have you had a sunburn within the past 12 months -
  include anytime that even a small part of your skin was red for more than 12 hours?
• 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?
• When you're 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 is his or her skin protected from the sun, such as by using sunscreens or sunblock
  or wearing hats or protective clothing? (Results not presented due to small numbers.)
• 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? (Results not presented due to small numbers.)
• 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; (Results not presented due to small numbers.)

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Environmental Policy

• Do you believe that you would eat healthy foods and beverages more often
  if they were more available in places where you eat out?
• Do you believe you would increase your physical activity if your community had more accessible sidewalks
  or trails for walking or bicycling?

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Physical Activity & Nutrition

• Are you currently trying to lose weight, maintain your current weight, that is keep from gaining weight, or do neither?
• Are you trying to reduce the amount of -
  Fat in your diet?
• Are you trying to reduce the amount of -
  Calories in your diet?
• Are you trying to increase your daily amount of physical activity or exercise?
• Are you trying to increase the amount of -
  Vegetables you eat every day?
• Are you trying to increase the amount of -
  Fruits you eat every day?
• When you are eating out, how likely are you to choose foods or beverages labeled as healthy?
  Would you say -
• Which of the following beverages do you drink most often?
• How would you describe your weight?
  Would you say -
• Are you trying to decrease the non-work time you spend -
  Watching TV or videos?
• Are you trying to decrease the non-work time you spend -
  Using the computer?

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Arthritis (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005)

• Results not presented due to small numbers.

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Care Giving (see results for 2003, 2004, 2005)

• During the past month, did you provide any regular care or assistance to a family member or friend?
• What age is the person for whom you are giving care?
• For HOW LONG have you provided regular care or assistance to this person?
• Does this person you care for have a problem with memory loss or confusion or a disorder like Alzheimer's disease?

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Visual Impairment and Access to Eye Care

• How much difficulty, if any, do you have in recognizing a friend across the street?
  Would you say-;
• How much difficulty, if any, do you have reading print in newspaper, magazine, recipe, menu, or numbers on the telephone?
  Would you say-;
• When was the last time you had your eyes examined by any doctor or eye care provider?
• What is the main reason you have not visited an eye care professional in the past 12 months?
• Do you have any kind of health insurance coverage for eye care?

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Diabetes Screening (see results for 2003, 2004, 2005)

• 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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Family Planning (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)

• 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. 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 is your main reason for not doing anything to keep you/your partner from getting pregnant? (Results not presented due to small numbers.)

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Sexual Behavior (see results for 2001)

• During the past 12 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 ... (Results not presented due to small numbers.)
• 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? (Results not presented due to small numbers.)
• 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? (Results not presented due to small numbers.)

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Risk Factors and Derived Responses (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)

• Body Mass Index Grouping-Underweight, Recommended Range, Overweight and Obese
• Adults who have a body mass index greater than 25.00 (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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