Combining State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data: Weighting for National Estimates

• Activity Number: 242
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 4, 2014 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Survey Research Methods Section
• Author(s): William Robb*+ and Lee Harding and Ronaldo Iachan
• Companies: ICF International and ICF International and ICF International
• Keywords: BRFSS ; National Estimates ; Weighting ; Combining Data ; Raking ; Cell Phone

Abstract

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the world's largest on-going telephone health survey system. Conducting interviews 50 states, the BRFSS surveys monitor state-level prevalence of the major behavioral risks among adults associated with premature morbidity and mortality. The weighting methodology was revised in 2011 to use raking as a means of incorporating more demographic variables, including telephone ownership, into the weighting. Designed as a state level survey, there has been increasing interest in using the data to provide estimates at the national level. One challenge is to develop design variables for use in accurate variance estimation. We present the development of weights that support combining state-level data to produce statistical valid national estimates. This work updates research conducted by Iachan et al (1999). The paper presents methods, a summary of the resulting weights, and compares resulting estimates with those obtained from other national estimation systems.