• SCHS Home

• About Us
• Contacts

 

Calendar Year 2009 Results

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

2009 BRFSS Topics for Piedmont North Carolina

BRFSS 2009 Annual Results Technical Notes

Health Status (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• Would you say that in general your health is:

Back to Topics

Healthy Days (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Health Care Access (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Sleep (see results for 2008)

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

Back to Topics

Exercise (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Diabetes (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Hypertension Awareness (see results for 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Cholesterol Awareness (see results for 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence (see results for 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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)

Back to Topics

Asthma (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

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

Back to Topics

Tobacco Use (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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 cigarettes regularly?
• Do you currently use chewing tobacco or snuff every day, some days, or not at all?
• Smoking Status
• Current Smoker

Back to Topics

Caregiver Status

• 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?

Back to Topics

Disability (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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

Back to Topics

Alcohol Consumption (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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

Back to Topics

Immunization (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Arthritis Burden (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Fruits and Vegetables (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007)

• How often do you drink fruit juices such as orange, grapefruit, or tomato?
• Not counting juice, how often do you eat fruit?
• How often do you eat green salad?
• How often do you eat potatoes not including French fries, fried potatoes, or potato chips?
• How often do you eat carrots?
• Not counting carrots, potatoes, or salad, how many servings of vegetables do you usually eat?
• Fruit and Vegetable Consumption per day
• Consumed five or more servings of fruits or vegetables per day

Back to Topics

Physical Activity (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007)

• When you are at work, which of the following best describes what you do? Would you say:
• Now, thinking about the moderate physical activities you do when you are not working in a usual week, do you do moderate activities for at least 10 minutes at a time such as brisk walking, bicycling,vacuuming, gardening, or anything else that causes small increases in breathing or heart rate?
• How many days per week do you do these moderate activities for at least 10 minutes at a time?
• On days when you do moderate activities for at least 10 minutes at a time, how much total time per day do you spend doing these activities?
• Now, thinking about the vigorous physical activities you do when you are not working in a usual week, do you do vigorous activities for at least 10 minutes at a time, such as running, aerobics, heavy yard work, or anything else that causes large increases in breathing or heart rate?
• How many days per week do you do these vigorous activities for at least 10 minutes at a time?
• On days when you do vigorous activities for at least 10 minutes at a time, how much total time per day do you spend doing these activities?
• Moderate Physical Activity
• Vigorous Physical Activity
• Leisure Time Physical Activity
• Physical Activity Recommendation Status

Back to Topics

HIV/AIDS (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Emotional Support and Life Satisfaction (see results for 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

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

Back to Topics

Cancer Survivors (see results for 2001, 2002)

• Have you EVER been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you had cancer?
• How many different types of cancer have you had?
• At what age were you told that you had cancer?
• What type of cancer was it?

Back to Topics

Pre-Diabetes (see results for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Actions to Control High Blood Pressure (see results for 2007)

• Are you now doing any of the following to help lower or control your high blood pressure - changing your eating habits?
• Are you now doing any of the following to help lower or control your high blood pressure - cutting down on salt?
• Are you now doing any of the following to help lower or control your high blood pressure - reducing alcohol use?
• Are you now doing any of the following to help lower or control your high blood pressure - 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 - change your eating habits?
• Has a doctor or health professional ever advised you to do any of the following to help lower or control your high blood pressure - cut down on salt?
• Has a doctor or health professional ever advised you to do any of the following to help lower or control your high blood pressure - reduce alcohol use?
• Has a doctor or health professional ever advised you to do any of the following to help lower or control your high blood pressure - exercise?
• Has a doctor or health professional ever advised you to do any of the following to help lower or control your high blood pressure - take medication?
• Were you told on TWO or MORE different visits to a doctor or other health professional that you had high blood pressure?

Back to Topics

Heart Attack or Stroke (see results for 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007)

• Do you think pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back are symptoms of a heart attack?
• Do you think feeling weak, lightheaded, or faint are symptoms of a heart attack?
• Do you think chest pain or discomfort are symptoms of a heart attack?
• Do you think sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes is a symptom of a heart attack?
• Do you think pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulder are symptoms of a heart attack?
• Do you think shortness of breath is a symptom of a heart attack?
• Identified all heart attack symptoms correctly
• Do you think sudden confusion or trouble speaking are symptoms of a stroke?
• Do you think sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side, are symptoms of a stroke?
• Do you think sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes is a symptom of a stroke?
• Do you think sudden chest pain or discomfort are symptoms of a stroke?
• Do you think sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance are symptoms of a stroke?
• Do you think severe headache with no known cause is a symptom of a stroke?
• 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?

Back to Topics

Cancer Survivorship

• Are you currently receiving treatment for cancer? By treatment, we mean surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or chemotherapy drugs.
• What type of doctor do you think of as your personal or health care provider?
• Did any doctor, nurse, or other health professional EVER give you a written summary of all the treatments that you received?
• Have you EVER received advice from a doctor, nurse, or other health professional about
  where you should return or who you should see for routine cancer check-ups after completing treatment for cancer?
• Were these instructions written down or printed on paper for you?
• With your most recent diagnosis of cancer, did you have health insurance that paid for all or part of your cancer treatment?
• Were you EVER denied health insurance or life insurance coverage because of your cancer?
• Did you participate in a clinical trial as part of your cancer treatment?
• Do you currently have physical pain caused by your cancer or cancer treatment?
• Is your pain currently under control?

Back to Topics

Diabetes Control (see results for 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Hypertension Screening (see results for 2001, 2005)

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

Back to Topics

Cardiovascular Health (see results for 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007)

• 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.

Back to Topics

COPD (see results for 2007)

• Have you ever been told by a doctor or health professional that you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or chronic bronchitis?
• 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?
• During the past 12 months, have you stayed in a hospital OVERNIGHT because of shortness of breath, COPD, or emphysema flare?
• During the past 12 months, has a doctor ever prescribed prednisone for your breathing problems?

Back to Topics

Caregiving (see results for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• What age is the person for whom you are giving care?
• Is this person male or female?
• What is her/her relationship to you?
• For how long have you provided care for this person?
• What has a doctor said is the major health problem, long-term illness, or disability that the person you care for has?
• In which of the following areas does the person you care for most need your help?
• In an average week, how many hours do you provide care for this person?
• I am going to read a list of difficulties you may have faced as a caregiver. Please indicate which one of the following is the greatest difficulty you have faced as a caregiver.
• During the past year, has the person you care for experienced changes in thinking or remembering?

Back to Topics

TRU Campaign/Tobacco Opinion (see results for 2007, 2008)

• 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?
• Would you favor or oppose a statewide law in NC that would make ALL workplaces smoke-free?
• States add a special tax to the purchase of cigarettes. The national average tax is $1.18 per pack and North Carolina's tax is $0.35 cents per pack. Would you favor or oppose raising North Carolina's cigarette tax to $1.18 for people who smoke: If part of the tax revenue was used to reduce tobacco use, particularly among kids?
• States add a special tax to the purchase of cigarettes. The national average tax is $1.18 per pack and North Carolina's tax is $0.35 cents per pack. Would you favor or oppose raising North Carolina's cigarette tax to $1.18 for people who smoke: If part of the tax revenue was used was used to expand health insurance coverage for the uninsured in North Carolina?

Back to Topics

Quit Now (see results for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Other Tobacco Products (see results for 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008)

• Snus is a moist, smokeless tobacco, usually sold in small pouches, that is placed under the lip against the gum. Have you heard of snus before today?
• During the past 30 days, did you smoke cigars, cigarillos, or little cigars?
• During the past 30 days did you usually smoke menthol cigarettes?

Back to Topics

Kidney Disease (see results for 2007, 2008)

• Have you ever been told by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional that you have some form of kidney disease?

Back to Topics

Physical Activity & Nutrition (see results for 2006)

• In a typical week, how many of your own meals come from fast food restaurants, like McDonalds, Taco Bell, or KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)?
• When you eat out at a sit-down restaurant, how often do you choose foods that are low in fat, sugar or calories?
• In a typical week, how many days do you 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?
• Does your workplace offer any support for healthy eating or physical activity for its employees? This may include offering healthy foods and drinks in vending machines, allowing for physical activity breaks during the day, or providing information on healthy eating or exercise.
• Have you heard of Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina?
• Where did you see or hear about Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina?

Back to Topics

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, or walk to the bus stop?

Back to Topics

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 stoke. 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?

Back to Topics

Injury & Treatment

• Have you ever been treated for any kind of injury in a private doctor's office or in an urgent care clinic?

Back to Topics

Adult Human Papilloma Virus (see results for 2008)

• 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?

Back to Topics

Gambling Behavior (see results for 2007, 2008)

• In the past 12 months, have you gambled or played any games for money?
• How much money do you usually wager on a day when you play for money?
• Have you ever tried to cut down or control your gambling?
• Have you ever lied to family members or friends about how much you gamble or how much money you have lost gambling?
• Have there ever been periods for 2 weeks or more when you spent a lot of time thinking about gambling or planning future gambling?

Back to Topics

Sexual & Physical Violence (see results for 2001, 2002, 2007)

• Has a stranger ever forced you to have sex or to do sexual things?
• Has a partner or ex-partner ever forced you to have sex or to do sexual things?
• Has someone you knew, not including a partner or ex-partner, ever forced you to have sex or to do sexual things?
• Has a stranger ever pushed, hit, slapped, kicked, or physically hurt you in any other way?
• Has a partner or ex-partner ever pushed, hit, slapped, kicked, or physically hurt you in any other way?
• Has someone you knew, not including a partner or ex-partner, ever pushed, hit, slapped, kicked, or physically hurt you in any other way?

Back to Topics

Risk Factors and Derived Responses (see results for 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)

• 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

Back to Topics