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Calendar Year 2008 Results

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

2008 BRFSS Topics for North Carolina

BRFSS 2008 Annual Results Technical Notes

Health Status (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)

• Would you say that in general your health is:

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Healthy Days (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)

• 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, 2006, 2007)

• 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 (Under Age 65)
• Health Insurance Coverage for Those Employed for Wages (Under 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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Sleep

• During the past 30 days, for about how many days have you felt you did not get enough rest or sleep?

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Exercise (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)

• 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, 2006, 2007)

• 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?
• 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.
• 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, 2006)

• 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?
• Adults aged 18+ that have had permanent teeth extracted (CDC calculated variable)
• Adults aged 65+ who have had all their natural teeth extracted (CDC calculated variable)
• Adults that have visited a dentist, dental hygenist or dental clinic within the past year (CDC calculated variable)

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Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence (see results for 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007)

• 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, 2006, 2007)

• 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, 2006, 2007)

• 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, 2006, 2007)

• 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 (see results for 2006, 2007)

• 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, 2006, 2007)

• 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, 2006, 2007)

• A flu shot is an influenza vaccine injected in your arm. 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?

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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, 2006)

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

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Drinking & Driving (see results for 2006)

• 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, 2006)

• 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 (Age 40+) (CDC calculated variable)
• Have had a mammogram within the past 2 years (Age 50+) (CDC calculated variable)
• Have had a mammogram within the past 2 years and a clinical breast exam within a year (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 age 18+ who have had a Pap Smear in the last 3 years? (CDC calculated variable)
• Have you had a hysterectomy?

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Prostate Cancer Screening (see results for 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006)

• 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, 2006)

• 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, 2006, 2007)

• 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?
• Do any of these situations apply to you in the past year: have used intravenous drugs, have been treated for a sexually transmitted or venereal disease, have given or received money or drugs in exchange for sex, had anal sex without a condom?

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Emotional Support (see results for 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007)

• 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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Pre-Diabetes (see results for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)

• Have you had a test for high blood sugar or diabetes within the past three years?
• Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you have pre-diabetes or borderline diabetes?

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Visual Impairment and Access to Eye Care (see results for 2006)

• 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?
• 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.
• Do you have any kind of health insurance coverage for eye care?
• Have you been told by an eye doctor or other health care professional that you NOW have cataracts?
• Have you EVER been told by an eye doctor or other health care professional that you had glaucoma?

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Other Tobacco Products (see results for 2001, 2004, 2006)

• 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 cigars, pipes, bidis, kreteks or other tobacco products?

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Secondhand Smoke I (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)

• On how many of the past 7 days, did anyone smoke in your home while you were there?
• On how many of the past 7 days, did someone smoke in your indoor workplace while you were there?
• Which statement best describes the rules about smoking inside your home? Do not include decks, garages, or porches.
• In bars, do you THINK smoking should be allowed in all areas, some areas or not allowed at all?
• In restaurants, do you THINK smoking should be allowed in all areas, some areas or not allowed at all?
• Inside indoor workplaces, do you THINK smoking should be allowed in all areas, some areas or not allowed at all?

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Adult Asthma History (see results for 2002, 2005, 2006)

• How old were you when you were first told by a doctor 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?
• During the past 12 months, besides emergency room visits, 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?
• 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 many days did you take a prescription asthma medication to PREVENT an asthma attack from occurring?
• During the past 30 days, how often did you use a prescription asthma inhaler during an asthma attack to stop it?

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Asthma Management (see results for 2007)

• An asthma management plan is a printed form that tells when to change the amount or type of medicine, when to call the doctor for advice, and when to go to the emergency room. Has a doctor or other health professional ever given you an asthma management plan?

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Care Giving (see results for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)

• 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?
• What age is the person for whom you are giving care?
• Did that person have a problem with memory loss or confusion or a disorder like Alzheimer's Disease?

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Kidney Disease (see results for 2007)

• Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have some form of kidney disease including chronic kidney disease, nephritis, nephrosis, renal disease, or end-stage renal disease?

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Skin Cancer Prevention (see results for 2001, 2004)

• 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?

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Folic Acid (see results for 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007)

• How often do you now take a multivitamin?
• How often did you take a multivitamin six months ago?

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Diabetes Control (see results for 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006)

• 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?
• 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 medicine due to lack of money?
• In the last year, have you had a hospitalization or emergency visit because of your diabetes?

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HPV

• A vaccine to prevent the human papillomavirus or HPV infection is available and is called cervical cancer vaccine, HPV shot, or GARDASIL. Have you EVER had the HPV vaccination?

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TRU Campaign (see results for 2007)

• In the last 12 months, have you heard about or seen the North Carolina TRU (or Tobacco. Reality. Unfiltered.) media campaign directed at preventing tobacco use among youth?

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NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund

• The North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund works to improve the health of the people of North Carolina by funding programs to reduce youth tobacco use, obesity, and health disparities, as well as help low-income populations access prescription drugs. Have you heard of the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund?

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NC QuitNow (see results for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)

• Are you aware of Quit Now NC cessation phone lines or websites?
• Smoking light cigarettes is safer than smoking regular cigarettes. Do you-
• Do you use smokeless tobacco in situations where you can't smoke or where you would prefer not to smoke?

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NC Tobacco Use Prevention (see results for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)

• The North Carolina tax on a pack of cigarettes is currently 35 cents and the national average is $1.11. How much more tax would you be willing to support if most of the money raised was used to fund youth-smoking prevention programs and treatment options for smokers who want to quit?
• Not including yourself, how many adults who live in your household smoke cigarettes, cigars or pipes?

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Gambling Behavior (see results for 2007)

• Have you ever played games for money, such as casino gambling, scratch card games, video poker, or the lottery?
• In the past 6 months, how often have you played any games for money?
• How much money do you usually wager on a day when you play for money?
• Do you sometimes gamble (or play for money) more than you think you should?
• Have you purchased a lottery ticket or scratch card since the establishment and operation of the North Carolina State Lottery?
• Participation in the North Carolina Lottery

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Sexual Behavior (see results for 2001, 2006)

• During the past 12 months, with how many people have you had sexual intercourse?
• During the past 12 months, have you had sex with only males, only females, or both?
• 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?

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Risk Factors and Derived Responses (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)

• 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 (Under Age 65)
• Health Insurance Coverage for Those Employed for Wages (Under Age 65)
• Smoking Status
• Current Smoker
• Binge Drinking
• Heavy Drinking
• Have had a mammogram within the past 2 years (Age 40+)
• Have had a mammogram within the past 2 years and a clinical breast exam within a year (Age 40+)
• Women age 18+ who have had a Pap Smear in the last 3 years? (CDC calculated variable)
• Disability Status

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