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Calendar Year 2011 Results

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

2011 BRFSS Topics for Western North Carolina

BRFSS 2011 Annual Results Technical Notes

Health Status

• Would you say that in general your health is:
• General Health Indicator for Healthy North Carolina 2020

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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 (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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Hypertension Awareness

• Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have high blood pressure?
• Are you currently taking medicine for your high blood pressure?

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Cholesterol Awareness

• Blood cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. Have you ever had your blood cholesterol checked?
• About how long has it been since you last had your blood cholesterol checked?
• Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse or other health professional that your blood cholesterol is high?

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Chronic Health Conditions

Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional EVER told you that you had any of the following?
• (Ever told) you had a heart attack also called a myocardial infarction?
• (Ever told) you had angina or coronary heart disease?
• (Ever told) you had a stroke?
• History of Any Cardiovascular Diseases (heart attack or coronary heart disease or stroke)
• (Ever told) you had asthma?
• Do you still have asthma?
• (Ever told) you had skin cancer?
• (Ever told) you had any other types of cancer?
• (Ever told) you have (COPD) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or chronic bronchitis?
• (Ever told) you have some form of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, lupus, or fibromyalgia?
• (Ever told) you have a depressive disorder, including depression, major depression, dysthymia, or minor depression?
• (Ever told) you have kidney disease?
• (Ever told) you have vision impairment in one or both eyes, even when wearing glasses?
• EVER told you that you have diabetes?

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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?
• How long has it been since you last smoked a cigarette, even one or two puffs?
• Do you currently use chewing tobacco or snuff every day, some days, or not at all?
• Smoking Status
• Current Smoker

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Fruits and Vegetables

• Consumed five or more servings of fruits or vegetables or beans per day

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Exercise

• 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?
• What type of physical activity or exercise did you spend the most time doing during the past month?
• Aerobic Recommendations (CDC calculated variable)
• Muscle Strengthening Recommendations (CDC calculated variable)
• Aerobic and Strengthening Guidelines (4-LEVEL) (CDC calculated variable)

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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?
• Has your disability lasted or is it expected to last 12 months or longer?
• Because of any impairment or health problem, do you have any trouble learning, remembering, or concentrating?
• Disability Status

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Arthritis Burden

• 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?
• 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?
• During the past 30 days, to what extent has your arthritis or joint symptoms interfered with your normal social activities, such as going shopping, to the movies, or to religious or social gatherings?
• Please think about the past 30 days, keeping in mind all of your joint pain or aching and whether or not you have taken medication. DURING THE PAST 30 DAYS, how bad was your joint pain ON AVERAGE?

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Seatbelt Use

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

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Immunization

• During the past 12 months, have you had either a seasonal flu shot or a seasonal flu vaccine that was sprayed in your nose?
• At what kind of place did you get your last flu shot/vaccine?
• Have you ever had a pneumonia shot?

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Alcohol Consumption

• During the past 30 days, how many days per week or per month did you have at least one drink of any alcoholic beverage such as beer, wine, a malt beverage or liquor?
• 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 for men or 4 or more drinks for women] 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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HIV/AIDS

• Have you ever been tested for HIV? Do not count tests you may have had as part of a blood donation.
• 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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Pre-Diabetes

• 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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Diabetes

• Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional EVER told you 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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Cardiovascular Health

• Following your heart attack, did you go to any kind of outpatient rehabilitation? This is sometimes called rehab.
• Following your stroke, did you go to any kind of outpatient rehabilitation? This is sometimes called rehab.
• Do you take aspirin daily or every other day?
• Do you have a health problem or condition that makes taking aspirin unsafe for you?

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Actions to Control High Blood Pressure

Are you now doing any of the following to help lower or control your high blood pressure
• (Are you) changing your eating habits?
• (Are you) cutting down on salt?
• (Are you) reducing your alcohol use?
• (Are you) exercising?

Has a doctor or health professional ever advised you to do any of the following to help lower or control your high blood pressure?
• (Ever advised you to) change your eating habits?
• (Ever advised you to) cut down on salt?
• (Ever advised you to) reduce alcohol use?
• (Ever advised you to) exercise?
• (Ever advised you to) take medication?

• Were you told on two or more different visits by a doctor or other health professional that you had high blood pressure?

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Heart Attack or Stroke

• Identified all heart attack symptoms correctly
• Identified all stroke symptoms correctly
• If you thought someone was having a heart attack or a stroke, what is the first thing you would do?

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COPD

• Have you ever been given breathing test to diagnose your COPD, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema?
• Would you say that shortness of breath affects the quality of your life?
• Other than a routine visit, have you had to see a doctor in the past 12 months for symptoms related to shortness of breath, bronchitis, or other COPD, or emphysema flare?
• Did you have to visit an emergency room or be admitted to the hospital in the past 12 months because of your COPD, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema?
• How many different medications do you currently take each day to help with your COPD, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema?

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Veteran's Health

• Did you ever serve in a combat or war zone?
• Has a doctor or other health professional ever told you that you have depression, anxiety,
  or post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
• Has a doctor or other health professional ever told you that you have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
• In the past 12 months, did you receive any psychological or psychiatric counseling or treatment?
• Has there been a time in the past 12 months when you thought of taking your own life?

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Cognitive Impairment

• During the past 12 months, have you experienced confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or is getting worse?

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Social Context

• Do you own or rent your home?
• How often in the past 12 months would you say you were worried or stressed about having enough money to pay
  your rent/mortgage?
• How often in the past 12 months would you say you were worried or stressed about having enough money to buy nutritious meals?

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Diabetes Control

• 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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Caregiving

• People may provide regular care or assistance to a friend or family member who has a health problem, long-term illness, or disability. During the past month, did you provide any such care or assistance to a friend or family member?
• What age is the person for whom you are giving care?
• For the person to whom you are giving the most care, what is his/her relationship to you?
• For how long have you provided care for this person?
• Major Health Problems of Care Recipient (Physical Health Condition/Disease Categories: Arthritis, Asthma, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Hypertension/High Blood Pressure, Lung Disease/Emphysema, Osteoporosis, Parkinson's Disease, Stroke)
• Major Health Problems of Care Recipient (Physical Disability Categories: Eye/Vision problem, Hearing Problem, Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury)
• Major Health Problems of Care Recipient (Learning/Cognition Categories: Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia, Learning Disabilities, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
• Major Health Problems of Care Recipient (Developmental Disability Categories: Cerebral Palsy (CP), Down Syndrome, Other developmental disability (e.g., spinal bifida))
• Major Health Problems of Care Recipient (Mental Health Categories: Anxiety, Depression, Other)

Please tell me yes or no whether the person you care for needs help with any of the following:
• Taking care of himself/herself, such as eating, dressing, or bathing
• Taking care of his/her residence or personal living spaces, such as cleaning, managing money, or preparing meals
• Transportation outside of the home
• Relieving/decreasing anxiety or depression

• In an average week, how many hours do you provide care for this person?
• Has caring for this person caused any difficulties for YOU?

I am going to read a list of difficulties you may have faced as a caregiver. Please tell me yes or no whether you have faced each one.
• A financial burden
• Not enough time for yourself
• Not enough time for your family
• Creates stress

• During the past year, has the person you care for experienced changes in thinking or remembering?

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Nutrition

• When you eat out, how likely are you to choose foods or beverages labeled as healthy?
• On how many days per week do you usually eat a main meal that is prepared at home?
• On a typical day, how many times do you drink sweetened beverages, not including diet or sugar-free beverages?
• Have you heard of Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina?
• Where did you see or hear about Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina?

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Worksite Wellness Programs

• Does your worksite offer health SCREENING programs like blood pressure checks or cholesterol screening?
• Does your worksite offer health EDUCATION programs like how to manage stress or weight management classes?

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Secondhand Smoke

• On how many of the past 7 days, did someone smoke in your indoor workplace while you were there?
• On how many of the past 7 days, did anyone smoke in your home while you were there?

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Smoking Cessation

• Did your doctor or health provider recommend or discuss methods and strategies other than medications to assist you with quitting smoking?
• The last time you tried to quit smoking, did you use any of the following medications: a nicotine patch, nicotine gum, nicotine lozenges, nicotine nasal spray, a nicotine inhaler, or pills such as Wellbutrin, Zyban, buproprion, Chantix, or varenicline to help you quit?

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Other Tobacco Products

• During the past 30 days, did you smoke cigars, cigarillos, also known as little cigars or "blacks"?

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Tobacco Use Prevention

• The North Carolina tax on a pack of cigarettes is currently 45 cents and the national average is $1.42. Would you favor or oppose raising North Carolina's cigarette tax to $1.00 if part of the tax revenue was used was used to help reduce smoking?

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Quit Now

• A telephone quitline is a free telephone-based service that connects people who smoke cigarettes
  or use tobacco products with trained quit coaches who can help them quit. Have you heard of the North Carolina Tobacco Use Quitline at 1-800-QuitNow or the website, QuitlineNC.org?

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Uninsured

• Earlier you indicated you do not have health insurance coverage. What is the MAIN reason you do not have health insurance?
• Earlier you indicated you do not have health insurance coverage. About how long has it been since you had health care coverage?

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Preconception Health & Family Planning

Has a doctor, nurse, or other health care worker EVER talked with you about any of the following topics during a ROUTINE HEALTH CARE visit:
• The importance of being at a healthy weight for having a healthy pregnancy?
• The risks of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use for having a healthy pregnancy?
• Your plans for having children?
• Ways to prepare for a healthy pregnancy and baby?

• Did you or your husband/partner do anything the last time you had sex
  to keep you from getting pregnant?
• What did you or your husband/partner do the last time you had sex to keep you from getting pregnant?
• How do you feel about having a child now or sometime in the future?
• How many times a week do you currently take a multivitamin, a prenatal vitamin, or a folic acid vitamin?

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Adult Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

• A vaccine to prevent the human papilloma virus or HPV infection is available and is called the cervical or genital warts vaccine or HPV shot, or GARDASIL or CERVARIX. Have you EVER had the HPV vaccination?

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Traumatic Brain Injury

• A brain Injury can result from a blow or jolt to the head caused by a fall, a motor vehicle accident, a sports injury, or an assault. A brain injury can also occur from a health problem like a tumor or a stroke. Have you ever had a brain injury that limited you in any way for more than a week in any activities?
• What was the cause of the brain injury?

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Sexual Orientation

• Now I'm going to ask you a question about your sexual orientation. I want to remind you that your answers are kept confidential and you don't have to answer any question if you don't want. Do you consider yourself to be:

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Firearms

The next 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?
• 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.
• Is the firearm kept locked in a gun safe or gun cabinet, or do you use a trigger lock or cable lock?

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Derived Variables and Risk Factors

• 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

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