Behavioral Risk Factory Survey (BRFS)
The next time the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) calls to ask you a few survey questions, pick up the phone! Join the thousands of people answering questions to help make Nebraska a healthier place to live.
402-471-1671
If you’ve ever received a phone call from this number, 402-471-1671, or this number shows up on your caller ID, it’s DHHS, and we’re calling to ask you a few questions.
Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS)
One of the most popular surveys DHHS uses to collect and analyze data is the Behavioral Risk Factor survey (BRFS). That survey has about 130 questions relating to people’s health habits and medical histories. Often we call on behalf of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And we share all the survey results with them.
The Behavioral Risk Factor Survey is one of the oldest and largest phone surveys. Beginning in 1986 and expanding since that time, the survey is now conducted each year in all fifty states and four territories.
“The information we gather from those surveys helps us identify trends and target our health education efforts so people can make healthier choices,” said Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer.
Risk factors are actions that make it likely that people will suffer injury or illness. “The information we get from the surveys identifies habits,” Schaefer said. “With that information, we will know what we need to do to improve.”
Many of the questions on the BRFS are very personal. For example, operators will ask questions about your mental health, eating and exercise habits, and exposure to domestic violence. The questions are legitimate, and your honest answers are important. Operators never ask for personal financial information like Social Security numbers or bank account numbers.
Because of the nature of the questions, the information from all of the interviews is confidential. The survey is conducted according to strict CDC protocol. The phone numbers are randomly generated, and the phone system has computerized, automated dialing so information can not be traced back to any caller.
Demographics continue to change in Nebraska and around the country, so, to keep up with trends, DHHS may use different surveys, add questions to existing ones or target specific populations. For example, there’s a BRFS survey being conducted across Nebraska for each of the local health departments. There are also bilingual operators available to gather information from survey participants who only speak Spanish.
A person’s chances of being called are increasing because DHHS is doing more and more surveys. DHHS conducts approximately 15,000 BRF surveys and 30,000 additional surveys in a year. Operators call in the evenings and on weekends, as well as during the day. Since phone numbers are randomly chosen, a person could be called up to four times a year (once a quarter) and asked to participate in a survey.
In the future, operators will call people on their cell phones in order to reach Nebraskans who only use mobile phones.
“Bottom line? These surveys provide important information so we can improve our health and lower our health care costs,” said Dr. Schaefer. “So, please, if DHHS calls and asks you to take a survey, say ‘yes.’ It’s a small 15 minutes of time that can really make a big difference in the lives of Nebraskans.”
For more information:
BRFS in the News (link to recent news release)
ABehavioral Risk Factor Survey Report is published every two years.
For sample BRFS questions, go to the CDC BRFS web site.
Interested in becoming a survey operator? We’re always looking for people with good phone skills. Apply through the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Use Position Title: phone interviewer; Position Number: 91654.
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