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Calendar Year 2013 Results

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

2013 BRFSS Topics for North Carolina - By Risks, Conditions, and Quality of Life Measures

BRFSS 2013 Annual Results Technical Notes

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Health Status (see results for 2011, 2012)

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

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Healthy Days (see results for 2011, 2012)

• 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 2011, 2012)

• 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?
• Do you have Medicare?
• Have you delayed getting needed medical care for any of the following reasons in the past 12 months?
• In the PAST 12 MONTHS was there any time when you did NOT have ANY health insurance or coverage?
• About how long has it been since you last had health care coverage?
• How many times have you been to a doctor, nurse, or other health professional in the past 12 months?
• Was there a time in the past 12 months when you did not take your medication as prescribed because of cost?
• In general, how satisfied are you with the health care you received?
• Do you currently have any medical bills that are being paid off over time?

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Inadequate Sleep

• On average, how many hours of sleep do you get in a 24-hour period?

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Hypertension Awareness (see results for 2011)

• 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 (see results for 2011)

• 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 (see results for 2011, 2012)

Has a doctor, nurse, or other health professional EVER told you that -
• (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 diabetes?
• Summary Index of Chronic Health Conditions

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Tobacco Use (see results for 2011, 2012)

• 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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Alcohol Consumption (see results for 2011, 2012)

• 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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Fruits and Vegetables (see results for 2011)

• Consumed fruit one or more times per day
• Consumed vegetables one or more times per day
• Consumed fruits or vegetables or beans five or more times per day

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Exercise (see results for 2011)

• 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?
• Adults that participated in 150 minutes (or vigorous equivalent minutes) of physical activity per week
• Adults that participated in 300 minutes (or vigorous equivalent minutes)
  of physical activity per week
• Physical Activity Categories
• Aerobic Recommendations
• Muscle Strengthening Recommendations
• Aerobic and Strengthening Guidelines (4-LEVEL)
• Aerobic and Strengthening Guidelines (2-LEVEL)

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Arthritis Burden (see results for 2011)

• 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 (see results for 2011, 2012)

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

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Immunization (see results for 2011, 2012)

• During the past 12 months, have you had either a seasonal flu shot or a seasonal flu vaccine that was sprayed in your nose?
• Since 2005, have you had a tetanus shot?
• Have you EVER had a pneumonia shot?

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HIV/AIDS (see results for 2011, 2012)

• Have you ever been tested for HIV? Do not count tests you may have had as part of a blood donation. Include testing fluid from your mouth.

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Pre-Diabetes (see results for 2011, 2012)

• 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 (see results for 2011, 2012)

• 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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Sugar Drinks (see results for 2012)

• About how often do you drink regular soda or pop that contains sugar?
• During the past 30 days, how often did you drink sugar-sweetened fruit drinks (such as Kool-aid and lemonade) sweet tea, and sports or energy drinks (such as Gatorade and Red Bull)?

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Sodium or Salt-Related Behavior

• Are you currently watching or reducing your sodium or salt intake?
• How many days, weeks, months, or years have you been watching or reducing your sodium or salt intake?
• Has a doctor or other health professional ever advised you to reduce sodium or salt intake?

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Cardiovascular Health (see results for 2011)

• 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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Mental Illness and Stigma

• About how often during the past 30 days did you feel nervous?
• During the past 30 days, about how often did you feel hopeless?
• During the past 30 days, about how often did you feel restless or fidgety?
• During the past 30 days, about how often did you feel so depressed that nothing could cheer you up?
• During the past 30 days, about how often did you feel that everything was an effort?
• During the past 30 days, about how often did you feel worthless?
• During the past 30 days, for about how many days did a mental health condition or emotional problem keep you from doing your work or other usual activities?
• Are you now taking medicine or receiving treatment from a doctor or other health professional for any type of mental health condition or emotional problem?
• Treatment can help people with mental illness lead normal lives.
• People are generally caring and sympathetic to people with mental illness.

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Diabetes Control (see results for 2011, 2012)

• 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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Disability (see results for 2011, 2012)

• 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?
• Are you blind or do you have serious difficulty seeing, even when wearing glasses?
• Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions?
• Do you have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs?
• Do you have difficulty dressing or bathing?
• Because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition, do you have difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor’s office or shopping?
• Disability Status

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Folic Acid (see results for 2012)

• How often do you now take a multivitamin?

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Hypertension Screening

• About how long has it been since you last had your blood pressure taken by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional?

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Secondhand Smoke (see results for 2011, 2012)

• On how many of the past 7 days, did someone smoke in your indoor workplace while you were there?
• Workplace Secondhand Smoke Exposure Indicator for Healthy North Carolina 2020
• 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 you smell tobacco smoke from someone else's cigarette, cigar, or pipe drifting into your home from nearby apartments or from outside?

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Smoking Cessation (see results for 2011, 2012)

• In the past 12 months, did any doctor, dentist, nurse, or other health professional advise you to quit smoking cigarettes or using any other tobacco products?
• 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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Perceived Nutrition Environment (see results for 2012)

• To what degree would you agree with the statement, "It is easy to purchase healthy foods in my neighborhood such as whole grain foods, low fat options, and fruits and vegetables."

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Use of Trails and Greenways (see results for 2012)

• Does your community have trails, greenways, bike paths, or sidewalks for biking, walking, or other activities?
• How often do you use these for biking, walking or other activities?

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Eat Smart Move More (see results for 2011)

• Have you heard of Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina?

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Physical Activity - Transportation

• In the past week, how much time did you walk or bicycle for transportation, such as to and from work or shopping?

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Food Preparation

• How often in the past 12 months did you buy fruits or vegetables locally grown such as from afarmer’s market, CSA, roadside stand, or pick-your-own produce farm?
• How many times in a typical week do members of your household eat a main meal together that was prepared at home?

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Actions to Control Weight

• Which of the following are you trying to do about your weight?

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Sexual Orientation (see results for 2011)

• 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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Derived Variables and Risk Factors (see results for 2011, 2012)

• 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

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