Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS)

In 2002, CDC's National Center for Environmental Health was successful in its proposal to add veteran-related questions to the core questionnaire of the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). These questions will ask about experience in the military and use of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care facilities. The BRFSS is a CDC-supported telephone survey that is administered by all 50 states to collect information on behavioral factors known to be associated with chronic diseases. Information on the BRFSS can be found at URL: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/.

The addition of questions on military experience and VA health care will be useful in assessing the overall general health status of veterans. They will also be useful in collecting data on specific behavioral risk factors, such as physical activity levels, smoking, and alcohol use. The information will assist both state and federal health officials in developing strategies for preventing and controlling health problems for the estimated 25.6 million veterans and 1.8 million active duty, Reserve, and National Guard personnel in the United States.