Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

At the heart of the BRFSS is a phone-based survey, conducted with adults aged 18 and older. The survey is adapted from a national surveillance system with the same name (BRFSS) established in 1984 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Each year, all US states and territories conduct the same core survey (www.cdc.gov/BRFSS), from which the data are aggregated to provide both state-to-state comparisons and national estimates. By using the same basic core of the national survey for our local survey, we then have state and national estimates on which to compare our local results. However, we also have the ability to customize the survey to our local interests and needs. For example, over the years the survey has included questions on food security, neighborhood-level healthy food access, quality and pricing, perceptions of neighborhood safety and quality and more detailed questions related to physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco use and cessation. 

The core BRFSS questions asked in one or more of our local surveys (to compare to state or national estimates) include the following:

• Health quality of life (e.g., self-rated health, # days of limited mental or physical health, etc.)
• Health care access and utilization (e.g., insurance, access to regular provider, last doctor or dental visit)
• Chronic conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes, hypertension, obesity)
• Health-related behaviors (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, physical activity, nutrition)
• Financial resources (e.g., income, food insecurity, car ownership)

Local questions include the following (some are multi-year, most are single year):

• Perceptions of neighborhood food availability, price and quality
• Neighborhood safety
• Quality of life and support
• Hopefulness for family and the city of Cleveland

• Use the menu to the left to find the data you need. We provide the data in various formats including: trend data, annual indicators – grouped by “theme”, and common indicators by demographics.