TX BRFSS Examples and Tutorial
Introduction
Vitalnet lets you quickly, easily, and reliably make BRFSS tables.
A key to success in using Vitalnet is knowing what is available.
To help, this web page gives an outline of the capabilities, with examples.
If anything is unclear to you, please call us at 425-271-6058.
Or use email form - Send corrections or suggestions
Changing Basic Table Layout - First, select "Main Statistic".
Main Statistic is the basic number displayed in the output table.
This can also be called the "Outcome".
| Main Statistic | Outcome is Weighted? |
Uses Yes / No Question? |
|---|---|---|
| TIC_UI_Name_UNQT_______TIC_BF_01_UnWt__Ntrview___ | - | - |
| TIC_UI_Name_UNQT_______TIC_BF_02_Wait__Ntrview___ | Yes | - |
| TIC_UI_Name_UNQT_______TIC_BF_03_UnWt__Num_Yes___ | - | Yes |
| TIC_UI_Name_UNQT_______TIC_BF_04_Wait__Num_Yes___ | Yes | Yes |
| TIC_UI_Name_UNQT_______TIC_BF_05_UnWt__Num_No____ | - | Yes |
| TIC_UI_Name_UNQT_______TIC_BF_06_Wait__Num_No____ | Yes | Yes |
| TIC_UI_Name_UNQT_______TIC_BF_07_Wait__Pct_Yes___ | Yes | Yes |
| TIC_UI_Name_UNQT_______TIC_BF_08_Wait__Pct_No____ | Yes | Yes |
TIC_UI_Name_UNQT_______TIC_BF_07_Wait__Pct_Yes___ is the most commonly used outcome.
Only weighted outcomes are valid for epidemiological comparisons.
The first two outcomes ignore the "Yes / No Variable".
In the future, we would like to add age-adjusted outcomes.
Changing Basic Table Layout - Next, select "Yes / No Question".
Has a personal health care provider?
Has health care coverage or insurance?
Lacked health care in past year due to cost?
Had a drink within past 30 days?
As of July 20, 2011 there were 153 Yes / No Questions, as follows:
Access: Has a personal health care provider?
Access: Has health care coverage or insurance?
Access: Lacked health care in past year due to cost?
Alcohol: Had a drink within past 30 days?
Alcohol: Is a heavy drinker?
Alcohol: Has been a binge drinker in past 30 days?
Arthritis: Doctor made a diagnosis of arthritis?
Arthritis: Doctor advised exercise for arthritis?
Arthritis: Doctor advised weight loss for arthritis?
Arthritis: Ever took a class to manage arthritis?
Aspirin: Takes aspirin daily or every other day?
Asthma: Ever told had asthma by doctor or nurse?
Asthma: Ever told had asthma, and still has?
Asthma: Ever told had asthma, and no longer has?
BMI Category: Is overweight (BMI 25 to 30)?
BMI Category: Is obese (BMI at least 30)?
BMI Category: Is overweight or obese (BMI 25+)?
Breast Exam: Ever had a clinical breast exam?
Breast Exam: Had clinical breast exam in past year?
Cell Phone: Has cell phone for personal use?
Checkup: Had medical checkup within past year?
Cholesterol: Ever had cholesterol checked?
Cholesterol: Had cholesterol checked in past 5 years?
Cholesterol: Had cholesterol checked and told high?
Colon Exam: Ever had a colon exam?
Colon Exam: Had colon exam in past 5 years?
Demographics: Is currently employed?
Demographics: Is married?
Diabetes: Ever had diabetes (including pregnancy)?
Diabetes: Ever had diabetes (excluding pregnancy)?
Diabetes: Ever had diabetic foot sores for 4 weeks?
Diabetes: Ever told eyes were affected by diabetes?
Diabetes Care: Saw a doctor in past year for diabetes?
Diabetes Care: Is taking diabetes pills?
Diabetes Care: Is taking insulin?
Diabetes Care: Ever took a class in managing diabetes?
Diabetes Exams: Checks blood sugar daily?
Diabetes Exams: Checked Hb A1C in past year?
Diabetes Exams: Checked Hb A1C twice in past year?
Diabetes Exams: Had diabetic eye exam in past year?
Diabetes Exams: Had diabetic foot exam in past year?
Diabetes Exams: Does daily diabetic foot self-exam?
Diet: Eats at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day?
Diet: Eats less than 1 fruits and vegetables a day?
Disability: Is limited in activities by a disability?
Disability: Uses special equipment for health problem?
Environment: Has home fuel-powered furnace?
Exercise: Did leisure time exercise in past month?
Exercise: Does moderate activity 10+ minutes per week?
Exercise: Does vigorous activity 10+ minutes per week?
Exercise: Meets recommendations for moderate activity?
Exercise: Meet recommendations for vigorous activity?
Exercise: Meets physical activity recommendations?
Exercise: Meets 150' physical activity recommendation?
General Health: Has excellent general health?
General Health: Has good or better general health?
General Health: Has fair or poor general health?
General Health: Has poor general health?
Healthy Days: Poor physical health 5+ days last month?
Healthy Days: Poor mental health 5+ days last month?
Healthy Days: Health limited activities 5+ days?
Heart Disease: Ever told had coronary heart disease?
Heart Disease: Ever had a heart attack?
Heart Disease: Ever had heart disease?
Heart Disease: Ever had cardiovascular disease?
Heart Disease: Had outpatient rehab after heart attack?
Heart Facts: Is MI symptom? Jaw, neck, or back pain?
Heart Facts: Is MI symptom? Feeling weak or faint?
Heart Facts: Is MI symptom? Chest pain or discomfort?
Heart Facts: Is MI symptom? Sudden trouble seeing?
Heart Facts: Is MI symptom? Arm or shoulder pain?
Heart Facts: Is MI symptom? Shortness of breath?
Heart Facts: Recognizes all heart attack symptoms?
HIV / AIDS: Has an HIV risk factor?
HIV / AIDS: Has ever been tested for HIV?
Hypertension: Was ever told has hypertension (Htn)?
Htn Advice: Advised to change eating habits?
Htn Advice: Advised to reduce salt intake?
Htn Advice: Advised to reduce alcohol use?
Htn Advice: Advised to exercise?
Htn Advice: Advised to take medicine?
Htn Care: To lower hypertension, is changing diet?
Htn Care: To lower hypertension, is reducing salt?
Htn Care: To lower hypertension, is reducing alcohol?
Htn Care: To lower hypertension, is exercising?
Htn Care: To lower hypertension, is taking medicine?
Hysterectomy: Ever had a hysterectomy?
Influenza: Adult had flu shot in past year?
Influenza: Adult had flu spray in past year?
Influenza: Adult had flu shot or spray in past year?
Joint Pain: Currently has joint symptoms?
Joint Pain: Is limited by arthritis or joint symptoms?
Joint Pain: Saw a doctor for joint symptoms?
Life Quality: Felt full of energy 5+ days last month?
Life Quality: Pain made activities hard 5+ days?
Life Quality: Felt depressed 5+ days last month?
Life Quality: Not enough sleep 5+ days last month?
Life Quality: Felt anxious 5+ days last month?
Mammogram: Ever had a mammogram?
Mammogram: Had a mammogram in past year?
Mammogram: Had a mammogram in past 2 years?
Oral Health: Visited a dentist in past year?
Oral Health: Had teeth cleaned in past year?
Oral Health: Six or more teeth have been removed?
Oral Health: All teeth have been removed?
PSA: Ever had a PSA test?
PSA: Had a PSA test within past year?
Pap Test: Ever had a Pap test?
Pap Test: Had a Pap test in past year?
Pap Test: Had a Pap test in past 3 years?
Pregnancy: Is currently pregnant?
Prostate: Ever had prostate cancer?
Rectal Exam: Ever had a digital rectal exam?
Rectal Exam: Had digital rectal exam in past year?
Rectal Exam: Had digital rectal exam in past 2 years?
Rectal Exam: Had digital rectal exam in past 5 years?
Satisfaction: Satisfied or very satisfied with life?
Satisfaction: Dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with life?
Smokeless: Used or tried smokeless tobacco product?
Smokeless: Currently use smokeless tobacco product?
Smoking: Smoked 100 cigarettes in entire life?
Smoking: Smoked 100 and currently smokes?
Smoking: Saw doctor for any kind of care in past year?
Smoking: Doctor discussed medication to quit smoking?
Smoking: Discussed other methods to quit smoking?
Smoking: Doctor advised quitting smoking in past year?
Smoking: Quit smoking at least 1 day in past year?
Stool Test: Ever had home blood stool test?
Stool Test: Had home blood stool test in past year?
Stroke: Ever told had a stroke?
Stroke: Had outpatient rehab after stroke?
Stroke Facts: Is a stroke symptom? Confusion?
Stroke Facts: Is a stroke symptom? Numbness?
Stroke Facts: Is a stroke symptom? Trouble seeing?
Stroke Facts: Is a stroke symptom? Chest pain?
Stroke Facts: Is a stroke symptom? Dizziness?
Stroke Facts: Is a stroke symptom? Bad headache?
Stroke Facts: Recognizes all symptoms of a stroke?
Support: Usually or always gets emotional support?
Support: Rarely or never gets emotional support?
Vaccines: Ever had pneumococcal vaccine?
Veteran Status: Was ever active duty in US military?
Violence: In safe place to answer questions?
Violence: Intimate partner threatened violence?
Violence: Intimate partner attempted violence?
Violence: Intimate partner committed violence?
Violence: Unwanted sex from intimate partner?
Visual: Has health insurance for eye care?
Weight Goals: Trying to lose weight?
Weight Goals: Trying to keep from gaining weight?
Weight Loss: Doctor advised weight loss in past year?
Weight Loss: Eating less calories or fat to lose weight?
Weight Loss: Is exercising to control weight?
Yes / No Question does not apply to following outcomes:
- TIC_UI_Name_UNQT_______TIC_BF_01_UnWt__Ntrview___
- TIC_UI_Name_UNQT_______TIC_BF_02_Wait__Ntrview___
Future versions will add more Yes / No Questions as requested.
Changing Basic Table Layout - Next, select "Row Variable".
"Rows" are HORIZONTAL (left to right) groupings of data.
"Row Variable" is the variable used for building the rows.
Separate Row for each Selected Age Range
Separate Row for each Selected Marital Status
Separate Row for each Selected Race Set
Separate Row for each Selected Year Group
Currently available row (and column) variables are:
- One Row Only
- Age
- BMI
- Education
- Emotional Support
- Employment Status
- General Health
- Height
- Income Level
- Last Checkup
- Race
- Satisfaction with Life
- Sex
- Smoking Status
- Weight
- Year
We would like to add more row (and column) variables.
Changing Basic Table Layout - Next, select "Column Variable".
"Columns" are VERTICAL (up to down) groupings of data.
"Column Variable" is the variable used for building the columns.
Separate Column for each Selected Age Range
Separate Column for each Selected Marital Status
Separate Column for each Selected Sex
Separate Column for each Selected Year Group
Currently available column (and row) variables:
- One Row Only
- Age
- BMI
- Education
- Emotional Support
- Employment Status
- General Health
- Height
- Income Level
- Last Checkup
- Race
- Satisfaction with Life
- Sex
- Smoking Status
- Weight
- Year
We'd like to add more column variables (same as row vars).
Changing Records Displayed - Select Values for "Range Variables".
Examples of range variables: age, BMI, income, year.
Values for a range variable range from low to high.
Range variables have contiguous "ranges", such as:
- Age: 30-44, 45-64, 65+
- Year: 2000-2004, 2008-2009
Year selection (2006, 2007) as row variable
Year selection (2005, 2006, 2007) as row variable
Year selection (2006) used as filter variable
Year selection (2005-2007) used as filter variable
"Filter variable" means not row variable or column variable.
Currently available range variables:
- Age
- BMI
- Education
- Height
- Income Level
- Last Checkup
- Weight
- Year
Changing Records Displayed - Select Values for "Categorical Variables".
Examples of categorical variables: race, marital status, sex.
Values for a categorical variable are discrete and unranked.
Categorical variables can be combined into "sets", such as:
- Marital: Married, [Divorced, Separated], Never Married
- Race: [White, Other], Black, Hispanic
Race selection (WBHO) as row variable
Race selection (leave off Other) as row variable
Race selection (Hispanic) as filter variable
"Filter variable" means not row variable or column variable.
Currently available categorical variables:
- Emotional Support
- Employment Status
- General Health
- Race
- Satisfaction with Life
- Sex
- Smoking Status
Changing Other Settings - Select Values to Further Customize Output
Most commonly used other settings:
- Confidence Level (usually 95%)
- Cell Suppression (always 50)
- Maximum Replicates (for confidence interval)
- Table Percents (eg, Row Total = 100%)
- Time Trend Format (Summary, Detailed, Off)
- Output Directory (eg: c:\myfiles\smoking-2007\)
- Output File Prefix (eg: table-04)
- Decimal Place Digits (0, 1, 2, 3, 4)
- Bar, Line, and Pie Chart Settings (many)
95% Confidence Intervals
Detailed Time Trend Format
Row Percents
Please call (425-271-6058) if anything is unclear.
We would like to hear any suggestions you might have.
Or use email form - Send corrections or suggestions