BRFSS Protocol

Introduction
In 1984, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated the state-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)—a cross-sectional telephone survey that state health departments conduct monthly over landline telephones and, since 2011, cell phones; the states conduct the BRFSS survey with the use of a standardized questionnaire and the technical and methodologic assistance from CDC. BRFSS collects prevalence data among noninstitutionalized adult US residents regarding their risk behaviors and preventive health practices that can affect their health. Respondent data are forwarded to CDC to be aggregated for each state, returned with standard tabulations, and published at year's end by each state. In 2017, over 450,000 interviews were conducted in the states, the District of Columbia, and participating US territories and other geographic areas.

This document provides data collectors with a BRFSS overview and outlines the processes involved with calling, disposition-code assignment, and data submission. This document does not cover details of sampling and weighting, as they are not data-collectors’ responsibility. Specific information regarding data quality, response and/or cooperation rates, or calling outcome can be found in the yearly Summary Data Quality Report released with the annual data set.

Find yearly data and support documents here: http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/data_documentation/index.htm.

Details of the data collection process are discussed in regularly scheduled conference calls and at the annual BRFSS meetings/training workshops. BRFSS encourages data collectors to participate in these events, as updating BRFSS data-collection protocol is a collective process that is strengthened when organizations and day-to-day stakeholders provide their input.

The BRFSS Process

The BRFSS questionnaire was developed in collaboration with CDC and public health departments in each of the states, the District of Columbia, and participating territories. Data derived from the questionnaire provide health departments, public health officials, and policy makers with behavioral and health status information that, when combined with mortality and morbidity statistics, guide the development of health-related policies and priorities as well as help decision makers address and assess strategies to promote good health. A finalized version of the questionnaire is sent to the states each year. CDC also provides computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) programming to states, but they may opt to use their own CATI programming software using the final version of the BRFSS questionnaire as a guide. States which develop their own programming systems are required to test it accurately against the CDC provided programming. States may not change the skip patterns or wording of questions in the questionnaire but are free to create state-added questions that can be customized to states’ individual needs (see below). In some instances, states may insert state-added questions into the questionnaire--with permission from CDC--when such questions fit into the context of extant topics/sections and do not impede the flow of the interview. Requests should be submitted to the state project officer or the survey methodologist on the Survey Operations Team.

Annual questionnaire construction

The BRFSS questionnaire is comprised of an annual standard core, which includes questions asked of respondents each year; a biannual rotating core, which includes questions asked only in even- or odd-numbered years; optional modules, which include standardized questions adopted verbatim by the states; and state-added questions, which states individually customized. Appendix A provides a copy of the 2020 BRFSS questionnaire, including modules with skip patterns. Data collectors will note that the 2020 questionnaire includes skip patterns for landline and cell phone interviews that administrators should follow when they are conducting interviews using a sample provided by CDC (see Sampling below).

Standard Core Questions: The portion of the questionnaire that is included each year and must be asked by all states. The core may include Emerging Core questions about “late-breaking” health issues. After 1 year, these questions are either discontinued, incorporated back into the standard core or become part of the rotating core or optional modules.

Rotating Core Questions: The portion of the questionnaire asked by all states on an every-other-year basis. These questions regularly appear in even- and odd-numbered years. A few questions (dealing with immunization) appear on the BRFSS in three year rotating cycles. States may use rotation core questions as optional modules in off-year questionnaires.

Optional Modules: Optional modules are sets of standardized questions on various topics that each state may select and include in its questionnaire. Once selected, a module must be used in its entirety and asked of all eligible respondents. If an optional module is modified in any way (e.g., if a question is omitted), then the questions will be treated as state-added questions (see below).

In order to achieve a wide range of data, states may choose to “split” samples in order to give different modules to each smaller group of participants. For example, if a state adopts a questionnaire that is too long to ensure respondent cooperation, the state may choose to provide a version of the questionnaire with the core and a subset of modules. In this way a greater number of modules may be used if the state uses different modules on different versions of the questionnaire. Some respondents, therefore, will answer the core questionnaire and one set of modules, while others answer the core questionnaire and a different set of modules. States are required to conduct at least 2,500 interviews for each of the versions of the questionnaire in order to have enough responses for weighting purposes. States may adopt up to three versions of the questionnaire, each including the core (with standard and rotating core questions) and a specified number of modules, which will differ by version. States must include modules on both landline and cell phone interviews. Versions must also be included in both samples.

In many instances states may prefer to insert optional modules into the core questionnaire. This may be done to improve the flow of the questionnaire by grouping questions on similar topics. The following optional modules may be inserted into the questionnaire at the discretion of the BRFSS coordinators:

Name of Optional Module	Approved section of questionnaire
Industry and Occupation	After the employment question in the demographics section
Food Stamps	After employment question or (I/O module) in demographics
Diabetes/ Pre-diabetes	After the diabetes question in the chronic disease section
Healthcare access	After core healthcare access questions
Adult HPV, Place of Flu vaccination, Shingles	In Immunization section
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity	In Demographics section just after the question on sex at birth (C08.05), if asked or just after C08.04 if C08.05 is not asked.
Home/ Self-measured Blood Pressure	Just after the Hypertension Awareness section of the core

All other insertions of optional modules into the core sections should be approved by CDC prior to implementation of the survey.

State-added Questions: BRFSS encourages states to add their own extra questions to their questionnaire, so they can gather data on additional topics related to their specific health priorities. All questions included in the BRFSS, with the exception of state-added questions, are cognitively tested prior to inclusion in the questionnaire. It is up to each state to decide whether or not it will cognitively test its state-added questions before use. State-added questions may not be inserted into the text of the core questionnaire or optional modules without approval from BRFSS. States should contact their project officers to request insertion of state-added questions into text that has been approved for use by all states.

The wording of the questions in any part of the BRFSS, with the exception of state-added questions, is determined at the annual BRFSS meeting (in spring or early summer), where BRFSS state coordinators vote to adopt questions submitted by CDC programs. A governing group including state BRFSS coordinators, CDC staff and others known as the BRFSS Working Group, may add questions on emerging issues (such as the H1N1 flu questions added in 2009 and e-cigarette use in 2014). A field test of new questions, modules and those sections of the questionnaire affected by new questions is conducted after the state voting process. CDC then designs core components and optional modules and produces data processing layouts, while considering state priorities, potential funding, and other practical aspects. Minor changes in question wording and format may be made after the field test. The new BRFSS materials for the next surveillance year are then sent to the states, which may add their own questions that they have designed or acquired. A target of October 1 is set for finalization of the questionnaire for the upcoming year.

Data collectors should have the capacity to make modifications, including addition of questions, during the course of the year. In addition, data collectors must be capable of adjusting screening questions that determine eligibility during the course of the year.

Data Collection

Data collection follows a suggested BRFSS interviewing schedule; all calls for a given survey month should be completed in the same sample month if possible. In some cases samples begun in one month may be completed in the first 7-10 days of the next month. Up to 15 calling attempts may be made for each landline phone number and up to 8 for each cell phone number in the sample, depending on state regulations for calling and outcomes of previous calling attempts. Although states have some flexibility in distribution of calling times, in general, surveys are conducted using the following calling occasions:

Conduct 20% of landline calling attempts on weekdays (before 5:00 PM)
Conduct 80% of landline calling attempts on weeknights (after 5:00 PM) and weekends
Conduct cell phone calling attempts during all three calling occasions (weekday, weeknight, and weekend), with approximately 30% on weekend calling occasions.
Change schedules to accommodate holidays and special events.
Make weeknight calls after 5:00 PM.
Adhere to respondents’ requests for specific callback/appointment times whenever possible.

With larger portions of the samples allocated to cell phone numbers, states may modify the calling schedule for efficiency. Data collectors must develop and maintain procedures to ensure respondents’ confidentiality, assure and document the quality of the interviewing process, and supervise and monitor the interviewers. CDC does not authorize the taping of interviews. Data collectors should keep in mind that state laws on recording conversations may vary, and there is no certainty when dialing a cell phone number as to where respondents are currently residing and accepting calls. Should a data collector record a call for any reason (such as training), CDC must be notified and approve of the procedure. In all cases where quality is being monitored by recording calls, respondents should be notified before the first questions are posed.

Each telephone number in the CDC-provided sample must be assigned a final disposition code to describe the result of calling the number:

A completed or partially completed interview (see definitions in Appendix B) or
A determination that:
- A household was eligible to be included but an interview was not completed or
- A telephone number was ineligible or could not have its eligibility determined.

The final disposition codes are then used to calculate response rates, cooperation rates, and refusal rates. The distribution of individual disposition codes and the rates of cooperation, refusal, and response are published annually in the Summary Data Quality Reports. BRFSS uses standards set by the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) to determine disposition codes and response rates. All BRFSS disposition codes and rules for assigning disposition codes are provided in Appendix B: Disposition Table with Callback Rules. Given the myriad outcomes for assigning specific codes associated with technological barriers, additional guidance is provided in Appendix C: Understanding Coding for Technological/ Telecommunication Barriers. Data collectors must follow the rules for assigning disposition codes and train and monitor interviewers in the use of specific dispositions.

Survey Protocol

BRFSS sets standard protocols for data collection, in order to maintain consistency across states that permits state-to-state data comparison. Data collectors should follow the assignment of disposition codes provided in Appendix B: Disposition Table with Callback Rules. Disposition codes follow the format of 1000-1999 completed/partially completed; 2000-2999 non-completed interviews with eligible respondents/households; 3000-3999 non-completed interviews with unknown eligible persons/households; 4000-4999 ineligible numbers; 5000-5999 interim dispositions. A 2000 level disposition should not be assigned unless the interviewer is certain that both the household and respondent are eligible for the survey. Assigning incorrect disposition codes can lower response rates and efficient use of the sample. The following items are included in the BRFSS survey protocol:

1. All states must include the core questions and introductory scripts without modification. States may choose to add any, all, or none of the optional modules and state-added questions after the core component. Interviewers may not offer information to respondents on the meaning of questions, words, or phrases beyond the interviewer instructions provided by CDC and/or the state BRFSS coordinators. States may not insert state-added questions into the core component or into optional modules without permission. State coordinators should contact their CDC project officers to request the placement of state-added questions into text that has been approved for use by all states.

2. Systematic, unobtrusive electronic monitoring is a routine and integral part of monthly survey procedures for all interviewers. States may also use callback verification procedures to ensure data quality. Unless supervisory monitoring of 10% of all interviews is being routinely conducted, a 5% random sample of each month’s interviews must be called back to verify selected responses for quality assurance. Recording calls as part of quality assurance is not part of the BRFSS methodology and recording interviews without respondent knowledge is not legal in all states. Data collectors should remember that cell phone numbers may reach respondents in any state or country, where laws on recording calls may be different than in the state where the call originated.

3. An eligible household is defined as a housing unit that has a separate entrance, where occupants eat separately from other persons on the property, and that is occupied by its members as their principal or secondary place of residence. The following are non-eligible households: vacation homes not occupied by household members for more than 30 consecutive days per year, group homes, institutions, and (in the landline telephone sample) households in states other than the one conducting the BRFSS questionnaire. Persons in a state’s cell phone sample who are residents of other states are eligible for interview. The state contacting the respondent should complete the core questionnaire and then provide the data to CDC for transfer to the appropriate state of the respondents’ residence. States should especially attempt to obtain the state of residence of respondents who indicate that they have moved and retained their cell phone number from another state. States should collect verbatim county information on persons who live in other states in order to permit the correct weight for the respondent after data are transferred. Since 2012, persons living in college housing have been included as eligible respondents. Although it is rare to contact a college housing resident in the landline sample, this person would also be included as a single adult household. The BRFSS is a self-reported survey. If respondents report that they live in private residences, it is not the role of interviewers to question them. The only instances under which there is discussion of information on whether households qualify as private residences is when respondents initiate the question.

4. Eligible household members include all related adults (aged 18 years or older), unrelated adults, boarders/roomers, live-in au pairs or students and domestic workers who consider the household their home, even though they may not be home at the time of the call. College housing residents are treated as single adult households. Household members do not include adult family members (including students) who are currently living elsewhere.

5. Questions should be read verbatim. In many cases introductory phrases are provided which should also be read as written. Interviewer instructions are optional and can be read if the respondent is confused or needs additional information. Items in parentheses in statements are also optional and may be read for clarification. Interviewers should not offer their own interpretation of questions or response options.

6. Proxy interviews are not conducted in the BRFSS. For people interviewed on landline telephones, individual respondents are randomly selected from all adults living in a household and are interviewed in accordance with BRFSS protocol. Household members include all family members, domestic servants, and au pair or live-in students who have resided at the residence for at least 3 months. Cell phone interviews are conducted with respondents who answer the number called and are treated as one-person households.

7. An interview is considered complete if data are collected for all questions which would have normally been asked for any selected respondent. Partially completed interviews are defined as those where the first sections of the interview are completed and the portions of the demographic section which are used for weighting are also asked of the selected respondent in regular order of the questionnaire. For the 2020 questionnaire this will include through question CDEM.12 for landline respondents and CDEM.11 for cell phone respondents. If the respondent does not provide substantive responses for weighting variables (that is, the respondent refuses to answer or responds that he/she does not know), imputed values will be generated and used only to assign weights. If an interviewer codes a number of responses as “don’t know” or “refused” just prior to cut off in order to have an interview count as a partial complete, this will be noted by the CDC staff as potential falsification of data. States should monitor data collection to ensure that the percentage of partial completes is not greater than 10% of the number of completes. A large percentage of partial completes could result in missing data for variables that follow the demographic sections including all optional modules. The number of partial completes which are not part of the RFP may be higher, if the state has contracted with the data collector ONLY on the number of 1100 dispositions.

8. Data collectors are responsible for ensuring that codes for refusal or DNK are not entered as data for questions which have been skipped and/or not asked due to termination/refusal/drop off.

9. With the exception of verbally abusive respondents, eligible people who initially refuse to be interviewed may be contacted at least one additional time and given the opportunity to be interviewed. Preferably, this second contact will be made by a supervisor or a different interviewer. Some states have regulations on whether refusals should be called again and the manner of the refusal conversion. For example, a period of two days between the initial refusal and second attempt is often standard protocol. Data collectors should contact the state BRFSS coordinator to determine the state’s policy on calling back refusals. Some states maintain an internal list of numbers which connect to households/persons who have been particularly adamant about being taken off calling lists. Numbers from new samples are matched against these list to prevent calling the numbers. States generally maintain a number on the list for up to two years. Numbers de-duped as a result of such lists should be coded with dispositions of 3700.

10. States are required to give a final disposition for every number in the sample, usually within the same month of the sample. States should complete all calling on each monthly sample within that month. A few states receive and account for all calling on a sample on a quarterly basis rather than a monthly basis. Data collectors should contact the state BRFSS coordinator to verify whether the state is receiving a monthly or quarterly sample from CDC.

11. The BRFSS OMB number and burden statement must appear on the header page of all interviewer forms. The CDC will provide the header with the questionnaire each year. Please note that the interviewers do not need to read any part of the OMB number or burden statement to the respondents unless asked. The entire burden statement does not need to be read if the respondent is simply asking how long the interview will take. If the respondent asks for any information at any time about the authority by which information is being collected, it is imperative that the OMB approval information be available to the interviewer. The interviewer may then cite the OMB control information, which would allow the respondent to review the project plan online.

12. CDC provides the states with a Spanish translation of the BRFSS questionnaire. Unlike the English version, states may change wording of the Spanish version in order to match local dialects.

13. Each data collector must assign a unique identifier to each interviewer, so that state health departments and the CDC may conduct interviewer-level analyses. This identifier should not be assigned to other interviewers working on the BRFSS for that state.

General callback and disposition coding rules are established by CDC (see Appendix B), and states are encouraged to adhere to them whenever possible. The calling rules are not universally applicable to each state. Data collectors contracted by the states should have the capacity to adhere to the calling rules listed below as well as those to in Appendix B.

All cell phone numbers must be hand dialed. Data collectors should seek legal advice if they are uncertain whether their practices are in any way contradictory to the regulations.
Interviewers should be trained specifically for the BRFSS and retrained each year.
If possible, calls made to non-English-speaking households and assigned the interim disposition code of 5330 (household language barrier) should be attempted again with an interviewer who is fluent in the household language (e.g., Spanish).
States should maximize calling attempts as outlined in Appendix B. The maximum number of attempts (15 for landline telephone and 8 for cell phone) may be exceeded if formal appointments are made with potential respondents. There are many instances in which the maximum number of callbacks is not required. States and data collectors should refer to the callback table provided in Appendix B with this document for the required number of callbacks for each calling outcome/ disposition.
Calling attempts should allow for a minimum of 6 rings and up to 10 rings if not answered or diverted to answering devices.
The maximum number of attempts may be set by the states. CDC recommendations for the maximum number of attempts are 15 for landlines and 8 for cell phones.
All numbers must be assigned a final disposition. Data should not be submitted with interim dispositions.
Messages left on answering devices/voice mail devices should be left by interviewers. Messages should never be left by any automated voice devices. States may have their own standard scripts for messages, describing the reasons for the call and when respondents might expect a return call. Messages can be left after any attempt. It is not recommended that respondents be burdened by repeated messages. States should adopt protocols to leave one or two messages during the calling attempts for a single number during the calling period. In order to minimize the potential effects of spam filters, it is recommended that messages be left on the first or second attempt.
If a respondent indicates that they will be available for a callback at a specific time/date, appointments may be made. Data collectors may send texts reminding cell phone respondents of the appointments after receiving verbal permission to text that information.
States adopting the Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Module, should train interviewers on how to handle respondents who become upset or stressed as a result of the questions. Appendix G provides a crisis protocol to train interviewers who will be administering this module.

Using the BRFSS Sample

In some instances, states design samples within boundaries of sub-state geographic regions. States may determine that they would like to sample by county, public health district, or other sub-state geography in order to make comparisons of geographic areas with their states. To conduct the BRFSS, states get samples of telephone numbers from CDC. States then review their sampling methodology with a state statistician and CDC to make sure data collection procedures are in place to follow the methodology. States must consult with CDC before making changes to methodology. States must maintain sample phone numbers in files that are separate from responses, in order to maintain standards of respondent confidentiality.

The BRFSS uses two samples: one for landline telephone respondents and one for cell phone respondents. State BRFSS coordinators work with CDC to produce all samples The CDC recommends that the range of completed cell phone interviews be a minimum of 50% to a maximum of 80% of total completed interviews. The 50-80% range of cell phone interviews is set to ensure the geographic distribution of the sample (since landlines samples can be geographically distributed across the state) and to ensure that the sample is demographically representative of the state. Data collectors are ultimately responsible to states for the distribution between landline and cell phones. Since landline telephones are often shared, household sampling is used in the landline telephone sample. Household sampling requires interviewers to collect information on the number of adults living in a residence and then select randomly from all eligible adults (see questionnaire). Cell phone respondents are treated as single adult households and therefore do not require household sampling. The samples are fully overlapping, so that any eligible person in the landline frame may also be eligible in the cell phone frame. States receive the sample monthly or quarterly, approximately by the 15th. Note that the BRFSS is a sample with replacement. It is possible, therefore, for a single household/respondent to be eligible and appear in a sample more than once within a year. Some states eliminate duplicate (“de-dup”) numbers that appear within the same quarter. A state with sub-state regions that represent small areas is more likely to encounter repeat numbers in the sample. States that wish to send advance letters should request addresses with their regular landline and cell phone samples. For states that send advance letters, mailing addresses are appended to telephone numbers. Data collections should release all replicates (of 30 numbers) in the sample in the first week of each month. Those who receive samples quarterly should release them in a manner that allows for sufficient calling prior to the end of the quarter. The table below provides the format for the landline and cell phone sample files received by the states.

Field Name	Size	Position	Format/Values/Explanation
Phone Number (AREACODS, PREFIXS, SUFFIXS)	22	1-22	9,1-NNN-NNN-NNNNv20201
Geographic Stratum (_GEOSTRS)	3	23-25	First position = 2 for Cell Phone. Then States with no geographic strata=01 in each record. Others according to provided information.
Density Stratum (_DENST2S)	1	26	1=Listed number, 2=Not listed one-plus block, 3=Zero block, 9=Not applicable (GU, PR, VI).
Sequence Number (SEQNO)	10	27-36	A unique 10-digit number for a state for a year with year in the first four digits. For example: 2020000001.
Number of Records Selected From Stratum (NRECSELS)	6	37-42	Number of telephone numbers (eligible sampling units) selected from stratum.
Number of Records in Stratum (NRECSTRS)	9	43-51	Number of telephone numbers in the stratum from which sample was selected.
Precalling [Cell-WINS Screening] Status (PRECALLS)	1	52	1=Active, 3=Inactive, 7=Unknown Status, 8=Non-Answerable Device, 9=Temporarily Out of Service
Replicate Number (SMONTH, REPNUM)	6	53-58	The first two digits, 01-12, represent months, the last four digits a sequential number starting with 0001 each month.
Replicate Depth (REPDEPTH)	2	59-60	A sequential number from 01‑30 in each replicate.
State FIPS Code (_STATE)	2	61-62	FIPS code of assigned state.
County FIPS Code (ASGCNTY)	3	63-65	Blank
County FIPS Code of Listed Number (LISTCNTY)	3	66-68	Blank
Number of Listed Household Numbers in Prefix in Assigned County (NOHHCTY)	4	69-72	Blank.
NXX Type (NXXTYPE)	2	73-74	Blank
Block Size (BLCKSIZE)	3	75-77	Blank
Number of Listed Households in Prefix (LSTHHPRE)	5	78-82	Blank
Estimated Total Households in Prefix (TOTHHPRE)	5	83-87	Blank
Core Based Statistical Area (CBSACODE)	5	88-92	Blank
Metropolitan Status Code (MSCODE)	1	93	Blank
Rate Center Name	30	94-123	The name of the rate center associated with the phone number.
V&H Coordinate (VNHCOORD)	10	124-133	Blank
Date Sample Generated (DATESMP)	10	134-143	mm/dd/yyyy
Pre-screening Process Used (PRESCREN)	1	144	0= Not screened 1=ID 2=ID Plus 3 = CSS 4=Cell-WINS
Date Sample Pre-screened (DATESCRN)	10	145-154	Blank
Release Date of Active Prefix Database (PHNRLDAT)	10	155-164	Blank
Release Date of Listed Phone Number Database (LSTRLDAT)	10	165-174	Blank
CLEC Number (CLEC)	1	175	Blank
Replicate designated for inclusion in Multi-Mode Mail Survey and address match status (MSREPMCH)	1	176	Blank
Time Zone	1	177	Blank
Primary or Secondary Phone (PRISECPH)	1	178	Blank
Listed in one of the following Databases: InfoUSA, Experian, (DIRLST)	1	179	Blank
Secondary Screening Flags	1	180	Blank
Indication of Address Matching	1	181	Blank
Path variable (PATH) used to help identify which questionnaire is used when there are dual questionnaires.	2	182-183	10 = Default Genesys value Landline Survey Sample 20 = Default Genesys value Cell Phone Survey Sample
Note: Monthly files will be sorted by stratum, replicate, and depth. The order of numbers within a replicate will be randomized before assignment of depth numbers. All numeric fields are right aligned and padded with leading zeros. All character fields are left aligned with trailing blanks.

Field Name

Size

Position

Format/Values/Explanation

Phone Number (AREACODS, PREFIXS, SUFFIXS)

1-22

9,1-NNN-NNN-NNNNv20201

Geographic Stratum (_GEOSTRS)

23-25

First position = 2 for Cell Phone. Then

States with no geographic strata=01 in each record. Others according to provided information.

Density Stratum (_DENST2S)

1=Listed number, 2=Not listed one-plus block, 3=Zero block, 9=Not applicable (GU, PR, VI).

Sequence Number (SEQNO)

27-36

A unique 10-digit number for a state for a year with year in the first four digits. For example: 2020000001.

Number of Records Selected From Stratum (NRECSELS)

37-42

Number of telephone numbers (eligible sampling units) selected from stratum.

Number of Records in Stratum (NRECSTRS)

43-51

Number of telephone numbers in the stratum from which sample was selected.

Precalling [Cell-WINS Screening] Status (PRECALLS)

1=Active, 3=Inactive, 7=Unknown Status, 8=Non-Answerable Device, 9=Temporarily Out of Service

Replicate Number (SMONTH, REPNUM)

53-58

The first two digits, 01-12, represent months, the last four digits a sequential number starting with 0001 each month.

Replicate Depth (REPDEPTH)

59-60

A sequential number from 01‑30 in each replicate.

State FIPS Code (_STATE)

61-62

FIPS code of assigned state.

County FIPS Code (ASGCNTY)

63-65

Blank

County FIPS Code of Listed Number (LISTCNTY)

66-68

Blank

Number of Listed Household Numbers in Prefix in Assigned County (NOHHCTY)

69-72

Blank.

NXX Type (NXXTYPE)

73-74

Blank

Block Size (BLCKSIZE)

75-77

Blank

Number of Listed Households in Prefix (LSTHHPRE)

78-82

Blank

Estimated Total Households in Prefix (TOTHHPRE)

83-87

Blank

Core Based Statistical Area

(CBSACODE)

88-92

Blank

Metropolitan Status Code (MSCODE)

Blank

Rate Center Name

94-123

The name of the rate center associated with the phone number.

V&H Coordinate (VNHCOORD)

124-133

Blank

Date Sample Generated (DATESMP)

134-143

mm/dd/yyyy

Pre-screening Process Used

(PRESCREN)

144

0= Not screened 1=ID 2=ID Plus

3 = CSS 4=Cell-WINS

Date Sample Pre-screened

(DATESCRN)

145-154

Blank

Release Date of Active Prefix Database (PHNRLDAT)

155-164

Blank

Release Date of Listed Phone Number Database (LSTRLDAT)

165-174

Blank

CLEC Number (CLEC)

175

Blank

Replicate designated for inclusion in Multi-Mode Mail Survey and address match status (MSREPMCH)

176

Blank

Time Zone

177

Blank

Primary or Secondary Phone (PRISECPH)

178

Blank

Listed in one of the following Databases: InfoUSA, Experian, (DIRLST)

179

Blank

Secondary Screening Flags

180

Blank

Indication of Address Matching

181

Blank

Path variable (PATH) used to help identify which questionnaire is used when there are dual questionnaires.

182-183

10 = Default Genesys value Landline Survey Sample

20 = Default Genesys value Cell Phone Survey Sample

Note: Monthly files will be sorted by stratum, replicate, and depth. The order of numbers within a replicate will be randomized before assignment of depth numbers. All numeric fields are right aligned and padded with leading zeros. All character fields are left aligned with trailing blanks.

Each phone number is assigned a precall status to indicate whether the number should be called. States may opt to call landline telephone numbers with precall status >1 but are not required to do so. States may also choose not to call landline numbers from the unlisted portion of the sample with precall status = 1 which also have secondary screening status as fax/modem lines or are listed as “busy” by the precall screener. Late in 2019, additional options to not call landline numbers with precall=1, density strata =2 and which also have secondary screeners of 2 or 3. This will continue in the 2020 administration.

States are not required to call cell phone sample numbers with an “inactive” precall status but may choose to do so. States should call all cell phone numbers with active and unknown precall status in the cell phone samples. In 2020, new screening is provided for cell phone numbers which are likely to be used for a device other than a phone (such as a security system or tablet) and numbers which are identified as “temporarily out of service”. States are not required to call cell phone numbers with these new pre-codes (8 and 9, respectively). A review of the portion of the cell phone sample which was categorized as 8 and 9 was conducted in October 2019. It was noted that some states had a very small number of screened cell phone numbers, while in other states, the percentage screened out by using precall 8 or 9 was up to 8% of the sample. The following states had higher than 3% of the sample screened as 8 included CT, IN, ME, MI, MO, OH, and SD. States which have higher proportions of numbers with precall status 8 may choose to dial the numbers once or twice to ensure that the screening is not eliminating active numbers. Given that the precall status indicates the potential for reaching an eligible respondent, calling landline numbers with precall >1 or cell phone numbers with inactive precall status may reduce response rates. States may also use the secondary precall status to assign bilingual interviewers to numbers with language barrier precall assignments, or make extra efforts to reach numbers which have precall status indicating residence/household status. In 2020, landline phone numbers will be differentiated in the sample as precall > 1 if a technical review indicates that the number is never answered or a business. This should reduce the calling efforts for landline no answers, which typically represent more than half of the final dispositions for landline sample. In 2020 the number and percentage of landline numbers in the sample will be reduced substantially for many states. Although the BRFSS will maintain the landline sample for several more years, it will eventually be phased out of the sampling process. For some states landline numbers are an important way to ensure that rural residents are included in the sample. As cell phone sampling improves in terms of geographic specificity, the need for landline numbers in the sample will diminish. The 2020 landline sample will also include fewer unlisted numbers (that is that the numbers are not from unlisted blocks). During the course of the year, if internal checks on the use of listed blocks shows that it is feasible, numbers from unlisted blocks may be eliminated from the sample. Data collectors should not change their practices for calling landline numbers in the sample until such a determination is made.

The landline sample is taken from listed and unlisted numbers at a ratio of 1:4. The ratio has changed from previous years due to the changes in stability of the landline samples. In 2020 the landline ratio of listed/unlisted numbers may change as landline sampling continues to be dynamic. Data collectors should expect changes in this ratio, and/or the elimination of unlisted numbers from the landline sample in 2020. NOTE: The number of callbacks required on the landline sample is different based on the density strata. Numbers from the low density strata have eight required callbacks, while those on the high density strata should be called 15 times. Please see the callback rules table provided in Appendix B for information on the number of required callbacks for each calling outcome/disposition.

States that request addresses may send advance letters to those households to alert them to the fact that they will be receiving calls and the nature of the survey. States may include a toll free number for potential respondents to inquire about the BRFSS. Studies have shown that the use of advance letters does improve response rates. However, the proportion of the landline sample that is accurately matched to addresses is declining. Currently about 20-30% of the landline sample is accurately matched to an address. In 2020 the BRFSS will also support sending advance letters to cell phone respondents. The ability to match cell phone numbers to addresses is improving, but states should only expect about 20-23% of cell phone numbers to match correctly to addresses. Since the cell phone sample is at the individual rather than household level, letters should specify which phone number connected to that address has been chosen. In order to maintain confidentiality, it is required that only portions of the phone number (such as the last four digits) be noted in the advance letters for cell phone respondents. The CDC will make every effort to provide addresses for advance letter as early as possible during each month. Data collectors should note that the cell phone sample is appended with landline numbers which have been ported to cell phone in previous months. Therefore the landline sample files may arrive earlier in the month than cell phone samples. Data collectors should speak to their BRFSS state coordinators about advance letters.

Samples for US territories differ from those from the states. BRFSS coordinators in US territories may deviate from the calling and sampling guidelines to fit the data needs of their jurisdictions. Data collectors should work closely with state BRFSS coordinators to ensure that the sample is properly managed. CDC will provide quarterly sample productivity tables on the upload/download site to alert the state coordinators of any problems with sample management.

Data collectors can track samples and productivity using the YTD Data Quality Reports (DQR) available with assigned logins on the upload site. Appendix F provides information on how to interpret information provided in the YTD Reports. The following table of contents lists the information available in the YTD Data Quality Reports. Changes in the information provided in the DQRs may change according to the needs of the data collectors and state coordinators. A short tutorial for using and understanding the YTD Data Quality Reports is found in Appendix F. BRFSS Coordinators and Data Collectors may attend training on using the YTD reports and Uploading Data at the annual BRFSS Questionnaire Meeting.

Year-to-Date Data Quality Reports

Table of Contents

Definition of Variables

Final Disposition Codes

Table 1A. Interview Month By File Month (Landline only)

Table 1B. Interview Month By File Month (Cell phone only)

Table 2A. Discrepancy in Sex Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date (Landline only)

Table 2B. Discrepancy in Sex Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date (Cell phone only)

Table 3A. Discrepancy in Age Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date (Landline only)

Table 3B. Discrepancy in Age Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date (Cell phone only)

Table 4A. Discrepancy in Race/Ethnicity Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date (Landline only)

Table 4B. Discrepancy in Race/Ethnicity Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date (Cell phone only)

Table 5A. Geo-Stratum by File Month and Year-to-Date (Landline only)

Table 5B. Geo-Stratum by File Month and Year-to-Date (Cell Phone only)

Table 6A. Date, Day of Week, Number of Interviewers and Final Disposition Code, by File Month (records with one or more attempts; Landline only)

Table 6B. Date, Day of Week, Number of Interviewers and Final Disposition Code, by File Month (records with one or more attempts; Cell phone only)

Table 7A. Number and Percent of Completes in the First 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 Days by File Month (Landline only)

Table 7B. Number and Percent of Completes in the First 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 Days by File Month (Cell phone only)

Table 8A. Eligibility and Status by Categories of Disposition Code, Year-to-Date (Landline only)

Table 8B. Eligibility and Status by Categories of Disposition Code, Year-to-Date (Cell phone only)

Table 9A. Eligibility and Status by Categories of Disposition Code by File Month (Landline only)

Table 9B. Eligibility and Status by Categories of Disposition Code by File Month (Cell phone only)

Table 10A. Detailed Disposition Code, Year-to-Date (Landline only)

Table 10B. Detailed Disposition Code, Year-to-Date (Cell phone only)

Table 11A. Detailed Disposition Code by File Month (Landline only)

Table 11B. Detailed Disposition Code by File Month (Cell phone only)

Table 12A. Number of Attempts by File Month (Landline only)

Table 12B. Number of Attempts by File Month (Cell phone only)

Table 13A. Outcome Rates, Year-to-Date by File Month (Landline only)

Table 13B. Outcome Rates, Year-to-Date by File Month (Cell phone only)

Table 14A. Income (77 and 99 collapsed), Year-to-Date (Completes only; Landline only)

Table 14B. Income (77 and 99 collapsed), Year-to-Date (Completes only; Cell phone only)

Summary Data Quality Reports are also available on the BRFSS website for previous years. States may compare their data productivity to that of other states in the summary reports, but will not have access to the YTD reports from other states.

Data Submission

CDC will provide a data layout file for monthly data submission. The BRFSS provides a data submission website to be used for uploading states’ data and monitoring the progress of processing. Access to this site is limited and requires a login accepted by CDC. Details on data submission are included in Appendix D: Uploading BRFSS Data Using OneEdits. Note that 2016 was the first year that OneEdits software will be used for data submission, so procedures have changed recently. Data collectors should download and run edit fix programs from the upload site prior to submitting data. Errors in submitted data will delay processing and may result in data sets being returned to states for corrections. Monthly data submission is preferable (and required during flu season, September-June). Data for each should be submitted by the 25^th of April, July, October and January, respectively. Following the quarterly submissions, states will receive a data file for checking. Appendix E outlines the steps in submission of data files that have been cleaned through OneEdits.

Data Sharing, Security and Rights to the Datasets

State and territorial health departments are the owners of the datasets. Data Collectors which are contracted by health departments have NO data rights and should not share or publish from state data sets without written permission. States should consider carefully before permitting use of data which are not part of the public use dataset. Persons seeking access to county code information, industry and occupation information or other variables which are not part of the public use dataset may apply for access through the CDC Research Data Center (RDC) at https://www.cdc.gov/rdc/index.htm.

While the Privacy Act is not applicable, the appropriate security controls and Rules of Behavior should be incorporated to protect the confidentiality of information, proprietary, sensitive, and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) the data collector may come in contact with during the BRFSS data collection process.

As is noted elsewhere in this document, sample files and response files should not be merged or linked. Data collections should transmit data only through the upload sites provided by CDC and not by email attachments or other means. Data collectors should maintain the most recent virus protections, operating systems patch levels and other security measures to all computers used to collect BRFSS data. While computers used for CATI data collection are not in all cases accessible to the internet, data collectors should ensure that access to data using flash drives or other devices is restricted to authorized individuals for authorized purposes.

Sample files should not be retained past the data of final use for BRFSS purposes. BRFSS sample file use is restricted to completion of BRFSS data collection and data collection for BRFSS call-back surveys. BRFSS sample files are not to be used for any other or subsequent purpose. Data collectors may not obtain permission for such use from respondents and are restricted from soliciting BRFSS respondent to take part in other surveys, internet panels or any other related use.

Data collectors should not retain sample or data files beyond the time that is necessary to finalize data. During the time that datasets are retained by data collectors, they should meet all security requirements for data storage and firewalls that are included in the most current BRFSS OMB approval. Data collectors may choose to configure computers that contain BRFSS data with the applicable United States Government Configuration Baseline (USGCB) (see http://usgcb.nist.gov/). Note: USGCB is applicable to all computing systems, including desktops and laptops—regardless of function—but not including servers.

State Pilot Projects Using Protocol Adjustments

At any time during the data collection process, states may make greater efforts to reach respondents than the protocols listed here. These efforts may include increasing the number of attempts, increasing the ring times, calling all numbers in the sample regardless of the precall status or increased interviewer monitoring or training. On occasion states may wish to make adjustments to the data collection protocol in order to test the efficiency of a new procedure. For example, in 2017, one state determined that response rates might improve if the interviewer took a more conversational tone during the introduction of the survey. The protocol adjustment was approved and the change was made and tested by the state. States, and data collectors who wish to make protocol adjustments must have written approval from CDC in order to make adjustments. State coordinators should contact their project officers and the survey operations team at the Public Health Surveillance Branch of the Division of Population

Appendix A 2020 BRFSS Questionnaire

(to be inserted)

Appendix B: Disposition Table with Callback Rules

Definitions of terms
Respondent	An adult who is contacted by an interviewer and who may be eligible for interview.
Calling attempt	An attempt is an effort to reach a potential respondent by dialing a phone number, even if the dialing does not reach or connect with a working phone line.
Complete	An interview in which all questions are complete, including all core and module questions which would be assigned to a selected respondent.
Partial compete	An interview which in which the selected respondent has been asked all questions up to those which will be used for weighting. For the 2020 questionnaire this will include through CDEM12 for landline respondents and CDEM.11 for cell phone respondents. Questions do not have to be answered substantively to be counted as asked (respondents may have provided answers of “do not know” or refused to answer questions).
Landline telephone	A telephone that is used within a specific location. Includes traditional household telephones, VOIP and internet phones connected to computers in a household.
Cell phone	A mobile device that is not tied to specific location for use and uses cell towers to connect users.
Selected respondent	An adult who is eligible for interview. For the cell telephone sample a selected respondent is an adult associated with the phone number who lives in a private residence or college housing within the US or territories covered by the BRFSS. For the landline telephone sample a selected respondent is the person selected for interview during the household enumeration section of the screening questions.
Calling occasions	There are three calling occasions: weekday (before 5:00 pm on a weekday); weeknight (after 5:00 pm on a weekday), and; weekend (any time on Saturday or Sunday).
Personal Cell phone	A cell phone that is used for personal calls. Cell phones that are used for both personal and business calls may be categorized as personal telephones and are eligible for interview. Telephones that are used exclusively as business phones are not personal telephones and, therefore, are not eligible for interview.
Private residence	A non-institutionalized residence in which adults persons aged 18 and over reside at least 30 days per year that has a separate entrance and cooking capabilities. It may also be college housing, such as a dormitory, fraternity or sorority house, campus sponsored housing or college family housing, or international student or visiting faculty housing. Personal RVs may be private residences. Group homes, military barracks, vacation homes that are not lived in for 30 days, or other temporary housing are not private residences. The determination of private residence is primarily made by the respondents. If the respondents indicate that they live in private residences, interviewers do not question their interpretation of their living situations.

Disposition Code	Description	Definition	Range of Number of Attempts	Callback Rules
1100	Complete	Assign if selected respondent completes questionnaire.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)
1200	Partial complete	Assign if selected respondent completes demographic questions that are used for weighting. For the 2020 questionnaire this will include through question CDEM12 for landline respondents and CDEM.11 for cell phone respondents.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Selected respondent may be called back to fully complete the interview. Give final disposition on 15^th or subsequent call attempt even if there is only one occurrence of a refusal or termination.
2111	Household level refusal (landline telephone only)	Assign for landline telephone only if refusal after confirmation of reaching household telephone line used by adults in correct state but before household selection and core BRFSS Q1 in landline telephone. Refusal can be from any member of the household (note: if refusal by selected respondent use code 2112). Automated messages should not count as refusals.	1-15 (8) attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	May be assigned after one attempt if hard refusal or special circumstance. Assign after maximum number of attempts and at least one interim disposition of 5111 (household level refusal).
2112	Selected respondent refusal	Assign if refusal by selected respondent before core BRFSS Q1 is answered by landline telephone. Automated messages should not count as refusals. Assign if cell phone respondent refuses after number determined to be personal phone and respondent confirms living in private residence or college housing.	1-15 (8) attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	May be assigned after one attempt if hard refusal or special circumstance. Assign after maximum number of attempts and at least one interim disposition of 5112 (respondent refusal).
2120	Break off/ termination within questionnaire	Assign if selected respondent has completed portions of Core BRFSS with responses other than “don’t know” or “refused’ and terminates/breaks off prior to the last question used for weighting (in the demographics section). (NOTE: If respondent completes questionnaire through weighting questions, code 1200.)	1-15 (8) attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	May be assigned after one attempt if hard refusal or special circumstance. Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5120 (break off/termination).
2210	Selected respondent never available	Assign if selected respondent is never available during sample period. Selected respondent may not have been contacted or contacted and asked to be called later. Includes repeated unsafe location for interview, respondent away during period of interview, respondent not available for appointment. Includes selected respondents who die during interview period.	1-15 (8) attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Give final disposition when notified or after at least 5 calling occasions of no more than 3 attempts with at least 3 weekday, 3 weeknight and 3 weekend calls for landline telephone. Cell phone respondents may be called up to 8 times, with at least 2 weekday, 2 weeknight and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of calling attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5100 (appointment), or 5560 (unsafe location).
2320	Selected respondent physically or mentally unable to complete interview	Assign if selected respondent is unable to complete interview due to physical or mental impairment. This includes temporary conditions such as bereavement, which will last beyond the interview period.	1-6 attempts	Assign the first time a selected respondent is contacted or is described by someone else as physically or mentally incapable of completing survey or the second time a respondent who is physically or mentally impaired is contacted.
2330	Language barrier, selected respondent	Selected respondent does not speak English or other language for which interviewers are available. (NOTE: If language barriers prevent completion of respondent selection, assign code 3330 (language barrier, physical or mental impairment).	1-6 attempts	Assign the first time a selected respondent is contacted or is described by someone else as not speaking English or other language (i.e. Spanish) for which interviewers are available.
3100	Unknown if eligible	Assign if hang up or call back request without confirming private residence/college housing or age of respondent (landline telephone and cell phone).	1-15 (8) attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Give final disposition after second hang-up / call back request / termination or when a first time hang up will not be called back because of hard refusal or special circumstances and when household eligibility is NOT established. If the first occurrence is on 15^th attempt, give final disposition. Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5050 (hang up, unknown if housing unit).
3130	No answer	Assign if telephone rings normally but no one answers.	6-15 (8) attempts	Give final disposition after at least 5 calling occasions of no more than 3 attempts with at least 3 weekday, 3 weeknight and 3 weekend calls for landline telephones. Cell phone respondents may be called up to 8 times, with at least 2 weekday, 2 weeknight and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of attempts with plurality of interim dispositions of 5130 (no answer).
3140	Answering device, unknown whether eligible	Assign if a mailbox is full or not yet established. Assign if answering device leaves open the possibility that the telephone number is not a residence or that the respondent is not eligible due to age.	10-15 (8) attempts for landline telephones; up to 8 attempts for cell telephones	Give final disposition after at least 5 calling occasions of no more than 3 attempts with at least 3 weekday, 3 weeknight and 3 weekend calls for landline telephones. Cell phone respondents may be called up to 8 times, with at least 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of attempts with plurality of interim dispositions of 5140 (answering device, unknown if eligible residence or respondent).
3150	Telecommunication barrier	Assign if call blocking, call ID requirements or other respondent initiated block device leaves open the possibility of the number reaching an eligible household and/or respondent. Assign if call forwarded to other number and there is some potential for reaching household or actual respondent at later time.	1-6 attempts	Give final disposition after up to 3 calling occasions of no more than 2 attempts with at least 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend calls for landline telephones. Cell phone respondents may be called up to 6 times, with at least 2 weekday, 2 weeknight and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5150 (telecommunication barrier) and all others noncontact.
3200	Household, not known if respondent eligible	Assign for landline telephone sample if private residence confirmed without selecting respondent. (NOTE: If contact is made and household eligibility is unknown, use code 3100). Contact with vacation home may apply. Contact with household where residents are away for interview period may apply. Assign for cell phone if contact is made with household resident without determining whether cell phone number and respondent are eligible.	1-15 (8) attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Give final disposition after second hang-up/ termination or when a first time hang up will not be called back because of hard refusal or special circumstances and when respondent eligibility is NOT established. If the first occurrence is on 15^th attempt, give final disposition. Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5050 (hang up, unknown if respondent eligible).
3322	Physical or mental impairment (household level)	Assign if physical or mental impairment prevents determination of private residence or prevents determination of eligibility of household or resident. This is a household level assignment. If selected respondent is physically or mentally impaired, assign 2320 after first attempt.	1-6 attempts	Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5320 (physical or mental impairment).
3330	Language barrier, (household level)	Assign if language barrier prevents determination of private residence or prevents determination of eligibility of household or resident. This is a household level assignment. If selected respondent has language barrier assign 2330 when informed. Information may come from respondent or other household member.	1-6 attempts	Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5330 (household language barrier). Do not assign if there are interviewers within the calling center who could complete the interview in language spoken by household (i.e. Spanish).
3700	On never call list	Assign only if supervisor can determine that respondent/ household is on never call list. Interviewer should not assign based on respondent information. (NOTE: If respondent insists that he/she is on never call list assign household level refusal (2111) or respondent refusal (2112).	No attempt	Assign with confirmation by supervisor. Interviewer should not assign based on respondent information.
4100	Out of sample	Assign if out of state for landline telephone or out of country for cell phone. Assign if indication that number reaches vacation home or household members are not living in home during interview period. (NOTE: If contact is made with respondent who indicates that they have been reached at their vacation home where they live for at least 30 consecutive days per year, interview can continue). Assign if no adults available on landline number (teen phone). Assign if landline telephone sample number connects to cell phone or if sample indicates that a number in the landline telephone sample has been ported to a cell phone.	1-15 (8) attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Assigned as soon as sample ineligibility determined. This should take priority over other final dispositions.
4200	Fax/data/modem	Assign if call reaches fax or data line without human contact.	1-6 attempts	May be assigned to landline unlisted sample with secondary precall status of fax. May be assigned after one attempt. If states choose to use 6 attempts, give final disposition after recommendation for 3 calling occasions with 2 weekday, 2 weeknight and 2 weekend calls for landline telephones. If states choose to use 6 attempts, cell phone respondents may be called up to 6 times, with recommendations for 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend attempts. If 6 attempts are used, assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5200 (fax/data/modem) and all others noncontact with any person.
4300	Nonworking number/ disconnected	Assign if tritone. Assign if operator message of nonworking number. States may choose to assign for temporary nonworking number message on first attempt or after repeated temporary nonworking number messages. Assign if “number changed” message. Assign if correctly dialed number rings to incorrect number. Assign if respondent reports that connection has been made to wrong number. A number that does not accept incoming calls (such as a hospital line only used for outgoing calls)	1-6 attempts. Do not call more than 6 attempts.	May be precall assigned (for both landline and cell phone). May be assigned after one attempt. If states use 6 attempts, give final disposition after recommendation for 3 calling occasions with 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend calls for landline telephones. Cell phone respondents may be called up to 6 times, with recommendations for 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of attempts with at least one interim disposition of 5400 (technological barrier), 5300 (possible nonworking) or 5550 (busy) and all others noncontact.
4400	Technological Barrier	Assign if repeated busy, fast busy or circuit busy messages. Assign if repeated ambiguous operator messages. Assign if repeated poor audio quality. Assign if number repeatedly does not connect. Assign if number reaches a retrieval or connectivity system (such as Skype or OnStar). Assign if cell phone respondent is outside calling area. Assign if respondent is unable to receive calls. DO NOT assign if answering device (which permits leaving messages) is reached.	1-6 attempts. Do not call more than 6 attempts.	May be assigned to landline unlisted sample with secondary precall status of busy. May be assigned after one attempt. If states use 6 attempts, give final disposition after recommendation for 3 calling occasions with 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend calls for landline telephones. Cell phone respondents may be called up to 6 times, with recommendations for 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend attempts. Assign after maximum number of attempts with interim dispositions of 5200 (fax/data/modem), 5400 (technological barrier), 5300 (possible nonworking) and/or 5550 (busy) and all others noncontact.
4430	Call forwarding / pager	Assign if message indicates number has been forwarded. Assign if number reaches a pager. Assign if connection produces series of beeps. NOTE: Do not select respondents from landline household or location that is different from the original number. Do not enumerate the number of adults at location which is different from original number. However, landline respondent may be interviewed if number has been temporarily forwarded and the respondent is still living at location of original number. Cell phone respondents who have forwarded their numbers may also be interviewed.	1-6 attempts. Do not call more than 6 attempts.	May be assigned after one attempt. May give final disposition after respondent or automated message informs that the number has been forwarded after multiple attempts. May give final disposition after series of beeps indicates a pager has been reached. If states use 6 attempts, give final disposition after recommendation for 3 calling occasions with 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend calls for landline telephone. Cell phone respondents may be called up to 6 times, with recommendations for 2 weekday, 2 weeknight, and 2 weekend attempts.
4460	Landline telephone (cell phone only)	Assign if cell phone sample number connects to a landline telephone.	1-15 (8) attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone).	Can be precall assigned. Given final disposition when informed. This disposition should take priority over other possible final dispositions for the cell phone sample.
4500	Non-residence	Assign if business, group home, government, or other organization. For cell phone, assign if telephone is used exclusively for business purposes.	1-15 (8) attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	Given final disposition when informed. This disposition should take priority over other possible final dispositions. This disposition should be assigned to numbers with a precall status of 5.
4900	Miscellaneous, non-eligible	Assign for null numbers, special data circumstances only. May be assigned if data are believed by state coordinator or data collection supervisor to be falsified or in error. Notify CDC when this code is used.	1-15 attempts (landline) 1-8 attempts (cell phone)	May be assigned after one attempt. Assign only with supervisor approval.
5050	Unknown whether eligible	Respondent hangs up or refuses before establishing eligibility. The state location question is not needed to establish eligibility for cell phone respondents.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day until maximum call attempts are reached.
5100	Appointment	Respondent asks for an appointment or asked to be called at some other time. Assign if child answers the phone and does not get an adult to come to the phone. Appointments may be formal or informal statements that the respondent is temporarily not able to complete the interview from household members or selected respondent.		Schedule a callback for appropriate time.
5111	Household level refusal (landline telephone only)	Assign for landline telephone only if refusal after confirmation of reaching household phone line used by adults in correct state but before core BRFSS Q1 in landline telephone. Refusal can be from any member of the household (note: if refusal by selected respondent, use code 2112). Automated messages should not count as refusals.		Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day. May assign final disposition of 2111 if hard refusal.
5112	Selected Respondent refusal: hang up or termination	Assign if refusal by selected respondent before Core BRFSS Q1 in landline telephone. Automated messages should not count as refusals. Assign if cell phone respondent refuses after number determined to be personal (nonbusiness) phone and respondent confirms living in private residence or college housing.		Give interim disposition. Schedule callback for as long as practical for up to two weeks after initial refusal.
5120	Break off / termination in questionnaire	Assign after respondent completes through Core BRFSS Q1 with an answer other than “don’t know/not sure” or “refused” but breaks off prior to end of demographic section.		Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day.
5121	Call dropped	Assign for cell phone respondent if call is dropped.		Give interim disposition when this situation occurs. Call back may occur immediately or rescheduled after an interval of one hour.
5130	No answer	Assign if number rings normally without answer.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour until maximum call attempts are reached.
5140	Answering device, unknown whether eligible	Assign if a mailbox is full or not yet established. Assign if answering device whether or not the message leaves open the possibility that the telephone number is not a residence or that the respondent is not eligible due to age.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour until maximum call attempts are reached.
5141	Call is immediately directed to answering machine without ringing	This is a similar code to 5140, but included to ascertain whether cell phones are blocking calls. Should be assigned if call is immediately (within a single ring) transferred to answering machine/voice mail.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour until maximum call attempts are reached. States may opt to final disposition of 3140 after 4 attempts with interim dispositions of 5141.
5150	Telecommunication barrier	Assign if call blocking, call ID requirements or other respondent initiated block device leaves open the possibility of the number reaching an eligible household and/or respondent. Assign if call forwarded to other number and there is some potential for reaching household or actual respondent at later time.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one hour until maximum call attempts are reached.
5200	Fax/data/modem	Assign if number connects to data or fax line without human contact.		States may assign final disposition of 4200 at any attempt, including the first attempt. If states choose to call up to 6 attempts, give interim disposition and schedule callback after an interval of at least one day.
MOVE THESE TO 5140
5300	Possible nonworking	Assign if message indicates number might be nonworking. Assign if recorded message indicates number is temporarily out of service. Assign if message indicates telephone number cannot be reached at this time. Assign if recording indicates that the number is for outgoing calls only (such as a hospital line for outgoing calls only).		States may assign final disposition of 4300 at any attempt including the first attempt. If states choose to call up to 6 attempts, give interim disposition and schedule callback after an interval of at least one hour.
5320	Physical or mental impairment	A household respondent or selected respondent is temporarily unable to be interviewed due to physical or mental impairment. NOTE: If selected respondent has permanent physical or mental impairment that renders him/her unable to complete the interview, assign final disposition of 2320 (physical or mental impairment) as soon as informed.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day until maximum call attempts are reached.
5330	Language barrier	Assign if a respondent who is not the selected respondent does not speak English or other language for which an interviewer is available. (NOTE: If selected respondent does not speak English or language for which there is an interviewer available, give final disposition of 2330 as soon as informed.)		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Call back after an interval of at least one day until maximum call attempts are reached.
5400	Technological barrier	Assign if fast busy or circuit busy messages. Assign if ambiguous operator messages. Assign if number reaches a retrieval or connectivity system (such as Skype or Onstar). Assign if poor audio quality. Assign if number does not connect. Assign if cell phone respondent is outside calling area. Assign if respondent is unable to receive calls. DO NOT assign if answering device (which permits leaving messages) is reached.		States may assign final disposition of 4400 at any attempt. If states choose to call up to 6 attempts, give interim disposition and schedule callback after an interval of at least one day.
5550	Busy	Assign if number produces normal busy (not fast busy) signal.		States may assign final disposition of 4400 at any attempt. If states choose to call up to 6 attempts, give interim disposition and schedule callback after an interval of at least one hour.
5560	Unsafe location/ activity for interview	Assign if respondent indicates he/she unable to continue due to safety concerns. May be assigned to numbers in cell phone or landline phone sample.		Give interim disposition when this occurs. Schedule a callback time or call back after an interval of at least one hour until maximum call attempts are reached.
5700	Supervisor attention	Assign if special circumstances require supervisor attention		Assign only for special circumstances.
5900	Null attempt	Assign only with supervisor approval for special data circumstances.		Assign only with supervisor approval for special data circumstances.

Appendix C:
Understanding Coding for Technological / Telecommunication Barriers

Introduction

The Ci3 2015 BRFSS survey programming includes four-digit disposition codes. Disposition code changes resulted from the move toward the standards of the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), the increased diversity of types of telephones in the sample, and the rapid changes in telephone usage.

This document provides a quick overview of the differences between Technological Barriers and Telecommunication Barriers, and Phone Circuit Messages and Answering Device Messages. It also provides examples of Phone Circuit messages and Answering Device messages with comments on their proper coding. The number and variety of messages that phone companies use are changing rapidly. The lists provided here are not comprehensive, but they are intended to give an overview of coding for commonly heard messages. This list was developed following discussions with data collectors at the 2013 BRFSS conference, and amended after discussions in 2015.

Definitions of Technological Barriers, Telecommunication Barriers,
Phone Circuit Messages and Answering Devices

One challenge with BRFSS disposition codes is the differentiation between a Telecommunication Barrier [5150] and a Technological Barrier. [5400]. The differences between these codes are based on whether the respondent initiates the barrier (Telecommunication Barrier) or the barrier is due to something outside of the control of the respondent (Technological Barrier). Technological Barriers may be due to the carrier or problems in the circuits or with the type of telephone. Technological barriers may also be due to a connection to a system that is not used as a phone, but a connectivity system itself, such as Skpe.

Keep in mind that a Technological Barrier will be coded as ineligible while a Telecommunication Barrier is coded as unknown eligibility. Also remember that clear messages for non-working numbers should be coded as final disposition nonworking number (4300) or possible nonworking number (interim code 5300). Personal answering devices should not be coded as a Technological Barrier.

Telecommunication Barriers vs. Technological Barriers

Technological Barrier (5400 or 4400): A Technological Barrier is either:
a) a telephone # that does not behave like a telephone line but instead acts like some other device (pager, alarm system, etc.); or
b) a NON-connecting telephone line that a telephone owner cannot answer (fast busy, circuit busy, etc.);

c) a retrieval or connectivity system (such as Skype or Onstar).

or
c) a line with an ambiguous phone circuit message.

Telecommunication Barrier (5150 or 3150): A Telecommunication Barrier is a device or service on the end of a telephone line put by the telephone line owner to block incoming calls. This type of barrier includes call blocking devices or requirements for codes prior to connection but does not include personal answering devices (such as voice mail). Telecommunication Barriers result from screening by potential respondents NOT by telephone companies.

Code a result as a telecommunication barrier only when there is assurance that the respondent put the block on the phone line. Otherwise, code the call as a technological barrier.

Interviewers often encounter messages from a phone company, or a phone circuit message. Phone circuit messages are not specific to a potential respondent and DO NOT ALLOW INTERVIEWERS TO LEAVE MESSAGES. Answering devices, on the other hand, do allow for interviewers to leave messages, unless the mailbox is full. Answering devices are set up by respondents or are specific to their telephone numbers. Even if a recorded message is heard on the answering device, it is still specific to that number and should be coded appropriately.

Phone Circuit Messages vs. Answering Devices

Phone Circuit Messages: A phone circuit message is produced by a telephone company. It is not specific to a potential respondent. Phone circuit messages do not permit interviewers to leave messages for potential respondents. Phone circuit messages may result in technological barrier dispositions (5400 or 4400), nonworking number dispositions (5300 or4300) or other ineligible dispositions.

Answering Devices: Answering devices must allow interviewers to leave messages or indicate that a specific mailbox is full. An answering device is specific to a potential respondent, even if it is a recorded message. For example, a recording which indicates that the interviewer has reached a specific number and allows the interviewer to leave a message is an answering device, not a phone circuit message. Codes for answering devices are 5140 and 3140 regardless of whether the number is in the landline or cell phone sample. .

Code a result as an answering device only if the interviewer has the potential to leave a message (or if the mailbox is full).

Examples of Messages and Coding Suggestions

Sometimes it is difficult to tell if a number is non-working or if there is a technological barrier. If the number is identified as purely non-working (you get an operator message that says it’s non-working) then use a non-working disposition code (either final non-working [4300] or possible non-working [5300]). CATI centers should define how strong the message needs to be to decide between final [4300] and possible [5300] non-working. The table below illustrates some common phone circuit messages that have been reported by states in the recent months. We have provided suggested coding for each message. This list is not exhaustive and it is likely that data collectors will continue to hear ambiguous messages in the future. Keep in mind the general rule that technological barriers are outside the control of the respondents, while telecommunication barriers are specifically placed by the respondents to block calls.

Table 1 Common Phone Circuit Messages
Phone Circuit Message	Comment	Suggested Coding
You have reached the (XXX) Telecom voice messaging service. If you have a mailbox on this system and would like to access it now, enter your 10-digit phone number, then press pound.	This is a number to a voicemail service, not a household.	4500--Non-residence
Tritone with and/or without a message	This message indicates that the number may not be a working number.	5300--Possible Non-working 4300--Nonworking
The number you have reached is not in service at this time.	This message indicates that the number may not be a working number.	5300--Possible Non-working 4300--Nonworking
At the subscriber’s request, this phone does not accept incoming calls.	Although this may appear to be a block, our experience with this message is that it is a hospital or group home where the phone places outgoing calls only.	5300--Possible Non-working 4300--Nonworking
Welcome to [cell phone carrier]. The number you have dialed is unassigned.	This message indicates that the number may not be a working number.	5300--Possible Non-working 4300--Nonworking
We’re sorry; your call cannot be completed as dialed. If you feel you have reached this recording in error, please check the area code and the number and try your call again.	This message indicates that the number may not be a working number.	5300--Possible Non-working 4300--Nonworking
We’re sorry. Your call cannot be completed as dialed. Please check the number and dial again or call your operator to help you.	This message indicates that the number may not be a working number.	5300--Possible Non-working 4300--Nonworking
The number you are trying to call is not reachable.	This message indicates that the number may not be a working number.	5300--Possible Non-working 4300--Nonworking
Your call has been connected to a vacant number series. Please check the number and dial again or call an operator to assist you.	This message indicates that the number may not be a working number.	5300--Possible Non-working 4300-Nonworking
The number you dialed is not a working number. Please check the number and dial again.	This message indicates that the number may not be a working number.	5300--Possible Non-working 4300--Nonworking
The number or code you have dialed is incorrect. Please check the number or code and try again.	This message indicates that the number may not be a working number.	5300--Possible Non-working 4300--Nonworking
The mobile customer you have dialed has turned the unit off or is outside its service area.	Note that this message indicates that the call may not be blocked by the respondent but by the lack of phone coverage; therefore, this message still may be coded as a technological barrier.	5400--Technological Barrier 4400--Technological Barrier
The subscriber you have dialed is not available or has traveled outside the coverage area. Please try you call again later.	Note that this message indicates that the call may not be blocked by the respondent but by the lack of phone coverage. Therefore this message still may be coded as a technological barrier.	5400--Technological Barrier 4400--Technological Barrier
The person you are calling cannot accept calls at this time. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.	The potential respondent could not answer this call, even if he/she wanted to; therefore, it is a technological barrier.	5400--Technological Barrier 4400--Technological Barrier
The mobile number you dialed is unavailable. Please try your call again later.	The potential respondent could not answer this call, even if he/she wanted to therefore it is a technological barrier.	5400--Technological Barrier 4400--Technological Barrier
Welcome to (cell phone carrier). The wireless customer you called is not available at this time. Please try your call again later.	The potential respondent could not answer this call, even if he/she wanted to; therefore, it is a technological barrier.	5400--Technological Barrier 4400-Technological Barrier
The person you are trying to reach is not accepting calls at this time. Please try your call again later.	The potential respondent could not answer this call, even if he/she wanted to therefore it is a technological barrier.	5400--Technological Barrier 4400--Technological Barrier
The subscriber is off line. Please call again later.	The potential respondent could not answer this call, even if he/she wanted to; therefore, it is a technological barrier.	5400--Technological Barrier 4400--Technological Barrier
The person you have called is not available right now. Please try again later.	The potential respondent could not answer this call, even if he/she wanted to therefore it is a technological barrier.	5400--Technological Barrier 4400- Technological Barrier
The party you are calling is currently unavailable.	The potential respondent could not answer this call, even if he/she wanted to; therefore, it is a technological barrier.	5400--Technological Barrier 4400--Technological Barrier
The person you have dialed is not able to receive calls at this time.	The potential respondent could not answer this call, even if he/she wanted to; therefore, it is a technological barrier.	5400--Technological Barrier 4400- Technological Barrier
The (cell phone carrier) number you dialed does not subscribe to voicemail services.	This appears to be a working number without voicemail set up.	5130--No Answer 3130--No Answer
The number you have reached has not yet set up voicemail services.	This appears to be a working number without voicemail set up.	5130--No Answer
The mobile customer you have dialed has turned the unit off.	Because this is a clear message that the call has been blocked by an action of the respondent, it is a telecommunication barrier.	5150--Telecommunication Barrier 3150--Telecommunication Barrier
Please enter your PIN to be connected.	Because this is a clear message that the call has been blocked by an action of the respondent, it is a telecommunication barrier	5150--Telecommunication Barrier 3150--Telecommunication Barrier

An answering device is differentiated from a phone circuit message in that it offers the interviewers the possibility to leave a message. In some cases, the answering device indicates that the number dialed has reached a residence. In other cases, messages from answering devices are less specific or seem to indicate that the answering device is attached to a business. Care should be taken to ensure that coding from answering device messages is accurate. Moreover, messages from cell phone sample answering devices are coded differently in some cases than are messages from landline sample answering devices. As in the past, assigning a disposition code for a message from an answering device before the household selection is complete will cause a prompt to be displayed. This prompt asks if the message includes “home,” “house,” “family,” “residence” or a family name. It is important to answer this question correctly.

The table below explains the coding for the four answering device codes.

Table 2 Assigning Codes for Answering Devices
Message	Comment	Code

A message may/may not indicate that the number is a household in the landline telephone sample. For cell phone sample numbers use this code on all answering devices where you can leave a message.	Assign if answering device permits the interviewer to leave a message, without indication of whether the number is connected to a household or business. Assign if answering device is reached on the cell phone sample.	3140--Answering device, unknown whether eligible 5140--Answering device, unknown whether eligible
The answering device indicates that the mailbox is full without indication of household status in the landline telephone sample number. Use this code for all cell phone answering devices where the mailbox is full.	Even though the interviewer cannot leave a message on this call, there is still potential for leaving a message on this device. Follow rules for household status on landline telephone devices.	3140-Answering device, unknown whether eligible 5140- Answering device, unknown whether eligible

Appendix D: Uploading BRFSS Data Using OneEdits

Using OneEdits 2015

out update to the program

15 years helped in improving editing process

New Features of OneEdits2015

Landline and Cell Phone survey in one software survey in one
Includes a feature that allows ‘Resume Editing’ ‘Resume Editing’
Allows Users to “Hide Errors” Hide Errors
Global field value replacement field value replacement
Appropriate error messages error messages

Default Folder Structure

Datafile––Keep original .dattfile

Playpen ––OneEdits keeps duplicate file there and make changes there duplicate file there and make changes there

Select Survey

Select data file

Select file from Datafile folder

Save selected data file….

Save selected file in playpen folder. Keep filename same as original file. in playpen folder. Keep filename same as original file.

Screening Results ….

Basic screening run results, good place to verify if selected modules have data.ve data.

Screening Results ….

Test Dataset T--> Run Edits menu would run edits on selected dataset.> Run Edits menu would run edits on selected dataset.

Good place to review modules being run and see if that matches with what state intended to collect. state intended to collect.

Edits Result ….

Test Dataset --> View Data menu would show edits run results. Data can be modified here in real time. Data can be modified here in real time.

Ignore Errors….

This is where repeating errors can be suppressed temporarily to focus on other errors.

Resume Edits….

Select ‘No’ while quitting application if user

wants to resume editing in future.

File --> Select Survey and File --> Resume Editing would allow > Resume E resumption of editing.

Folder Selection….

F ile --> Select Survey and Configuration

M odule Selection….

Global field value change

F ile --> Select Survey, File --> Admin Access, Admin

R eports …

Error Messages

This message will show up if selected data file has missing data for any one of the fields mentioned in error message.one of the fields mentioned in error message.

Error Messages

Error Messages

As with any software, there may be unexpected errors.

If you continue to experience problems with OneEdits, please contact Ajay Sharma AUS6@cdc.gov or Bill Garvin WSG1@cdc.gov.

Appendix E: BRFSS State Data Submit File Process

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Submit Data Files – File Naming

File names conform to the following convention:

4 character prefix, consisting of three letters describing the type of survey, followed by an underscore (see table below)
Two character state abbreviation; i.e. Georgia = GA
Three character abbreviation for the month
Two-digit year
An optional one-digit number or letters, 1-9.

Example:

AAC_GAMAY14.dat

Survey for Asthma Callback Adult Cellphone for Georgia, May, 2014

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Submit Data Files – Errors

The selected survey does not match the 3 character survey prefix in the file name AAC_GAJUN16.DAT

The prefix before the underscore (AAC_GAJUN16.DAT ) must match the required prefix for the survey type

The selected state does not match the 2 character state in the file name AAC_GAJUN16.DAT.

The state code (AAC_GAJUN16.DAT) must match the state selected

The selected month does not match the 3 character month in the file name AAC_GAJUN16.DAT.

The month code (AAC_GAJUN16.DAT) must match that of the month selected

T he selected year does not match the 2 digit year in the file name AAC_GAJUN16.DAT.

The year (AAC_GAJUN16.DAT) must match that of the year selected

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Appendix F: Understanding the YTD Data Quality Reports

2017 State Data Quality Reports

Rick Anderson Senior SAS Programmer

Northrop Grumman

SAMPLE BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, DATA QUALITY REPORT FOR 2017

Definitions of Variables

File Month.

Each data file submitted to CDC contains the name of a month in the filename. The “January” file month contains the January sample.

Household Roster Status.

None: Three variables, the number of Adults (NUMADULT), Men (NUMMEN), and Women (NUMWOMEN) are all missing

Partial: One or two of these variables (NUMADULT, NUMMEN, NUMWOMEN ) are missing

Inconsistent: All variables are present/non-missing but NUMADULT not equal to the sum of NUMMEN and NUMWOMEN

Consistent: All variables are present/non-missing and NUMADULT equals the sum of NUMMEN and NUMWOMEN

Density Strata (Landline only).

Categorized as Listed (published dataset) or Not listed one-plus block.

Disposition Code Eligibility Categories.

Completed Interviews (COIN) = 1100+1200

Eligible (ELIG) = 1100+1200+2111+2112+2120+2220+2320+2330

Contacted Eligible (CONELIG) = 1100+1200+2111+2112+2120+2320+2330

Known Households (HH) = 1100+1200+2111+2112+2120+2210+2320+2330+3200+3700

Terminations and Refusals (TERE) = 2111+2112+2120

Ineligible Phone Numbers (INELIG) = All 4000 Disposition Codes

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SAMPLE BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, DATA QUALITY REPORT FOR 2017
	2017 Fina	l Disposition Codes
Category	Disposition Codes	Description
Completed Interviews	1100	Complete
	1200	Partial Complete
Non completed, known eligible	2111	Household level refusal
	2112	Known respondent refusal
	2120	Breakoff/termination within questionnaire
	2210	Respondent never available
	2220	Household answering device (landline only)
	2320	Respondent physically or mentally unable to complete interview
	2330	Language barrier, selected respondent
Non completed, unknown eligibility	3100	Unknown if housing unit
	3130	No answer
	3140	Answering device, unknown if residence or respondent eligible
	3150	Telecommunication barrier
	3200	Household, not known if respondent eligible
	3330	Language barrier (household level)
	3322	Physical or mental impairment (household level)
	3700	On never call list
Ineligible	4100	Out of sample
	4200	Fax/data/modem
	4300	Nonworking number/disconnected
	4400	Special technological circumstances
	4430	Call forwarding/pager
	4450	Cell phone (landline only)
	4460	Landline (cell phone only)
	4500	Non-residence
	4510	Group home
	4700	Household no eligible respondent
	4900	Miscellaneous, non-eligible

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section I: Sample Generation, Release, and Submission

Table 1. Density Stratum By File Month

(Landline only)

	Density Stratum
	Listed		Not listed One-Plus Block		Not Applicable
File Month	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
January	5,193	34.41	9,897	65.59
February	5,193	34.41	9,897	65.59
March	11,646	34.54	22,074	65.46
April	9,044	30.61	20,506	69.39
May	9,044	30.61	20,506	69.39
June	9,044	30.61	20,506	69.39
July	7,905	30.36	18,135	69.64
August	7,905	30.36	18,135	69.64
September	7,905	30.36	18,135	69.64
October	8,561	29.73	20,239	70.27
November	9,008	29.76	21,262	70.24
December	8,561	29.73	20,239	70.27

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section I: Sample Generation, Release, and Submission

Table 2A. Number of Records in Replicate by File Month

(Landline only)

Replicates with Number of Records => (sent to the CDC)
	Less than 30		Equal to 30		Greater than 30
File Month	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
January	0	0.00	503	100.00	0	0.00
February	0	0.00	503	100.00	0	0.00
March	0	0.00	1124	100.00	0	0.00
April	0	0.00	985	100.00	0	0.00
May	0	0.00	985	100.00	0	0.00
June	0	0.00	985	100.00	0	0.00
July	0	0.00	868	100.00	0	0.00
August	0	0.00	868	100.00	0	0.00
September	0	0.00	868	100.00	0	0.00
October	0	0.00	960	100.00	0	0.00
November	0	0.00	1009	100.00	0	0.00
December	0	0.00	960	100.00	0	0.00

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report
Section I: Sample Generation, Release, and Submission
Table 2B. Number of Records in Replicate by File Month
(Cell Phone only)
Replicates with Number of Records => (sent to the CDC)
	Less than 30		Equal to 30		Greater than 30
File Month	Number	Percent	Number	Percent	Number	Percent
January	0	0.00	208	100.00	0	0.00
February	0	0.00	206	100.00	0	0.00
March	0	0.00	207	100.00	0	0.00
April	0	0.00	196	100.00	0	0.00
May	0	0.00	195	100.00	0	0.00
June	0	0.00	196	100.00	0	0.00
July	0	0.00	206	100.00	0	0.00
August	0	0.00	206	100.00	0	0.00
September	0	0.00	207	100.00	0	0.00
October	0	0.00	426	100.00	0	0.00
November	0	0.00	431	100.00	0	0.00
December	0	0.00	292	100.00	0	0.00

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Interview Month

File Month

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

12,468

82.6

February

2,622

17.4

14,913

98.8

March

177

1.2

33,647

99.8

April

0.2

29,497

99.8

May

0.2

24,704

83.6

June

4,846

16.4

29,532

99.9

July

0.1

25,204

96.8

August

836

3.2

25,200

96.8

September

840

3.2

23,269

89.4

October

2,771

10.6

27,948

97.0

November

852

3.0

30,196

99.8

December

0.2

28,800

100.0

Total

15,090

100.0

15,090

100.0

33,720

100.0

29,550

100.0

29,550

100.0

29,550

100.0

26,040

100.0

26,040

100.0

26,040

100.0

28,800

100.0

30,270

100.0

28,800

100.0

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section I: Sample Generation, Release, and Submission

Table 3B. Interview Month, By File Month

(Cell Phone only)

Interview Month

File Month

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January

3,388

54.3

February

2,852

45.7

6,159

99.7

March

0.3

6,193

99.7

April

0.3

5,804

98.7

May

1.3

5,350

91.5

June

500

8.5

5,862

99.7

July

0.3

3,859

62.4

August

2,321

37.6

3,410

55.2

September

2,770

44.8

3,665

59.0

October

2,545

41.0

8,134

63.6

November

4,646

36.4

9,450

73.1

December

3,480

26.9

8,760

100.0

Total

6,240

100.0

6,180

100.0

6,210

100.0

5,880

100.0

5,850

100.0

5,880

100.0

6,180

100.0

6,180

100.0

6,210

100.0

12,780

100.0

12,930

100.0

8,760

100.0

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section II: Bias

Table 4A. Discrepancy in Sex Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date

(Base=Completes only; Landline interviews from state/territory residents only)

Sex	Unweighted Frequency from BRFSS Data	Unweighted Percent from BRFSS Data	Population Frequency	Population Percent	Percentage Point Difference Between BRFSS and Population
Male	2,212	34.24	10,248,978	49.15	-14.91
Female	4,243	65.67	10,603,536	50.85	14.82
Refused	6	0.09
Total	6,461		20,852,514

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section II: Bias

Table 4B. Discrepancy in Sex Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date

(Base=Completes only; Cell Phone interviews from state/territory residents, including those interviewed by other states/territories)

Sex	Unweighted Frequency from BRFSS Data	Unweighted Percent from BRFSS Data	Population Frequency	Population Percent	Percentage Point Difference Between BRFSS and Population
Male	2,278	47.94	10,248,978	49.15	-1.21
Female	2,466	51.89	10,603,536	50.85	1.04
Refused	8	0.17
Total	4,752		20,852,514

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section II: Bias

Table 5A. Discrepancy in Age Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date

(Base=Completes only; Landline interviews from state/territory residents only)

Age Group	Unweighted Frequency from BRFSS Data	Unweighted Percent from BRFSS Data	Population Frequency	Population Percent	Percentage Point Difference Between BRFSS and Population
Don’t Know Refused	105
18-24	70	1.10	2,861,239	13.72	-12.62
25-34	173	2.72	3,990,054	19.13	-16.41
35-44	406	6.39	3,766,590	18.06	-11.68
45-54	730	11.49	3,562,450	17.08	-5.60
55-64	1,358	21.37	3,197,830	15.34	6.03
65-74	1,795	28.24	2,102,318	10.08	18.16
75 +	1,824	28.70	1,372,033	6.58	22.12
Total	6,461		20,852,514

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report
			Section II: Bias
Table 5B. Discrepancy in Age Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date
(Base=Completes only; Cell Phone interviews from state/territory residents, including those interviewed by other states/territories)
Age Group	Unweighted Frequency from BRFSS Data	Unweighted Percent from BRFSS Data	Population Frequency	Population Percent	Percentage Point Difference Between BRFSS and Population
Don’t Know Refused	72
18-24	491	10.49	2,861,239	13.72	-3.23
25-34	839	17.93	3,990,054	19.13	-1.21
35-44	854	18.25	3,766,590	18.06	0.18
45-54	782	16.71	3,562,450	17.08	-0.37
55-64	862	18.42	3,197,830	15.34	3.08
65-74	593	12.67	2,102,318	10.08	2.59
75 +	259	5.53	1,372,033	6.58	-1.05
Total	4,752		20,852,514

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section II: Bias

Table 6A. Discrepancy in Race/Ethnicity Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date

(Base=Completes only; Landline interviews from state/territory residents only)

Race Group	Unweighted Frequency from BRFSS Data	Unweighted Percent from BRFSS Data	Population Frequency	Population Percent	Percentage Point Difference Between BRFSS and Population
White, Non-Hispanic	4,337	67.13	9,719,049	46.61	20.52
Black, Non-Hispanic	529	8.19	2,427,850	11.64	-3.46
Asian/Pacific Islander, Non-Hispanic	93	1.44	1,002,816	4.81	-3.37
Am Indian/Native American, Non-Hispanic	59	0.91	72,046	0.35	0.57
Hispanic	1,264	19.56	7,344,003	35.22	-15.66
Undetermined/Multi- Racial	179	2.77	286,750	1.38	1.40
Total	6,461		20,852,514

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section II: Bias

Table 6B. Discrepancy in Race/Ethnicity Between Population Estimates and Unweighted BRFSS Data, Year-to-Date

(Base=Completes only; Cell Phone interviews from state/territory residents, including those interviewed by other states/territories)

Race Group	Unweighted Frequency from BRFSS Data	Unweighted Percent from BRFSS Data	Population Frequency	Population Percent	Percentage Point Difference Between BRFSS and Population
White, Non-Hispanic	2,295	48.30	9,719,049	46.61	1.69
Black, Non-Hispanic	350	7.37	2,427,850	11.64	-4.28
Asian/Pacific Islander, Non-Hispanic	121	2.55	1,002,816	4.81	-2.26
Am Indian/Native American, Non-Hispanic	44	0.93	72,046	0.35	0.58
Hispanic	1,800	37.88	7,344,003	35.22	2.66
Undetermined/Multi- Racial	142	2.99	286,750	1.38	1.61
Total	4,752		20,852,514

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section II: Bias

Table 7A. Geo-Stratum by File Month, Year-to-Date

Base=Completes only (Landline only)

File Month

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Year-To-Date

Geo- Str

101

2.4

2.3

0.2

0.7

0.2

0.8

1.0

1.3

1.0

102

3.1

4.3

7.4

5.5

6.7

4.1

4.0

5.8

4.3

13.0

10.9

12.2

442

6.8

103

4.7

3.2

7.9

10.9

16.0

15.3

6.2

6.4

5.3

5.5

4.0

4.4

513

7.9

104

3.7

2.6

4.2

4.0

2.6

3.2

2.9

3.9

2.1

4.4

4.0

4.8

229

3.5

116

4.2

2.6

4.4

5.8

6.3

5.7

7.3

6.4

9.6

3.6

5.8

2.8

356

5.5

117

3.1

3.4

5.7

6.6

5.3

4.8

5.2

4.1

5.3

7.3

7.1

9.0

366

5.7

118

2.6

2.0

1.0

0.2

0.4

0.5

119

2.6

1.7

1.0

0.2

0.3

0.2

0.6

0.2

1.1

0.6

Total

381

100.0

349

100.0

793

100.0

603

100.0

583

100.0

628

100.0

578

100.0

486

100.0

530

100.0

524

100.0

548

100.0

458

100.0

6,461

100.0

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section II: Bias

Table 7B. Geo-Stratum by File Month, Year-to-Date Base=Completes only (Cell phone only)

File Month

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Year-To-

Date

Geo-

Str

201

3.6

3.8

2.5

2.7

0.6

1.1

0.9

2.2

0.3

1.5

202

4.7

4.9

3.0

2.5

4.0

6.1

4.8

7.9

6.4

2.8

2.4

196

4.1

203

3.8

3.0

5.8

10.3

11.3

9.4

6.2

4.3

5.9

2.8

1.7

3.9

242

5.1

204

5.8

4.6

3.3

5.0

7.3

6.1

12.3

9.1

5.9

2.0

2.5

1.8

232

4.9

216

4.4

2.2

5.0

10.0

8.3

9.7

4.8

4.6

6.2

1.8

3.5

2.9

227

4.8

217

3.6

1.9

3.9

0.9

1.3

1.9

0.3

1.5

1.9

1.1

1.3

1.6

1.7

218

1.1

2.2

1.1

0.3

1.0

0.3

1.0

1.8

1.1

0.2

1.3

0.8

219

6.8

8.2

9.7

8.1

5.0

10.3

6.2

6.7

7.5

3.6

4.2

5.0

302

6.4

Total

365

100.0

367

100.0

362

100.0

321

100.0

300

100.0

310

100.0

292

100.0

328

100.0

373

100.0

757

100.0

597

100.0

380

100.0

4,752

100.0

Year-To-Date Data Quality Report
Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort
Table 8A. Date, Day of Week, Number of Interviewers and Final Disposition Code, By File Month
(Base= records with one or more attempts; Landline only)
File Month	Date of Final Disposition	Day of Week	Number of Interviewers	Number Completes	Percent Completed	Cumulative Percent	Number Incomplete Eligible Household	Number Ineligible Household	Number Non- Working	Number Other Dispositions	Number of Final Dispositions
January	01/10/2017	Tuesday	2	0	0.00	0.00	0	0	91	9	100
January	01/11/2017	Wednesday	1	1	0.01	0.01	0	0	116	12	129
January	01/12/2017	Thursday	4	1	0.01	0.03	0	0	304	29	334
January	01/13/2017	Friday	6	2	0.03	0.06	0	0	439	37	478
January	01/14/2017	Saturday	1	7	0.10	0.16	1	0	30	3	41
January	01/15/2017	Sunday	9	2	0.03	0.19	0	0	444	36	482
January	01/16/2017	Monday	12	17	0.24	0.43	3	0	156	105	281

January	02/08/2017	Wednesday	4	5	0.07	5.22	11	1	2	25	44
January	02/09/2017	Thursday	7	11	0.16	5.38	72	0	14	216	313
January	02/10/2017	Friday	15	5	0.07	5.45	28	0	3	65	101
January	02/11/2017	Saturday	5	2	0.03	5.48	13	0	0	21	36
January	02/12/2017	Sunday	1	0	0.00	5.48	4	0	0	2	6
				381	5.48		383	7	2,819	3,360	6,950

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort Table 8B. Date, Day of Week, Number of Interviewers and Final Disposition Code, By File Month (Base= records with one or more attempts; Cell phone only, restricted to state/territory)
File Month	Date of Final Disposition	Day of Week	Number of Interviewers	Number Completes	Percent Completed	Cumulative Percent	Number Incomplete Eligible Respondent	Number Ineligible Respondent	Number Non- Working	Number Other Dispositions	Number of Final Dispositions
January	01/12/2017	Thursday	3	4	0.09	0.09	0	0	9	4	17
January	01/13/2017	Friday	2	2	0.04	0.13	0	1	10	1	14
January	01/14/2017	Saturday	1	1	0.02	0.15	0	1	0	0	2
January	01/15/2017	Sunday	6	7	0.15	0.31	0	1	6	0	14
January	01/16/2017	Monday	7	7	0.15	0.46	4	4	51	24	90
January	01/17/2017	Tuesday	7	8	0.18	0.64	0	1	36	14	59

January	02/07/2017	Tuesday	16	9	0.20	6.46	2	3	8	34	56
January	02/08/2017	Wednesday	27	26	0.57	7.03	23	2	6	670	727
January	02/09/2017	Thursday	12	22	0.49	7.52	23	1	4	957	1,007
January	02/10/2017	Friday	23	23	0.51	8.02	11	0	1	505	540
January	02/11/2017	Saturday	2	1	0.02	8.05	2	0	0	7	10
				365	8.05		94	70	1,065	2,942	4,536

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort Table 9A. Number and Percent of Completes in the First 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 Days by File Month (Landline only)
File Month	Monthly Interviews Completed	Number and Percent of Interviews with Final Disposition Codes of 1100 (Complete) and 1200 (Partial Complete) Completed in the First
File Month	Monthly Total	5 days	% of monthly interviews	10 days	% of monthly interviews	15 days	% of monthly interviews	20 days	% of monthly interviews	25 days	% of monthly interviews
January	381	44	11.5	71	18.6	86	22.6	250	65.6	318	83.5
February	349	16	4.6	181	51.9	261	74.8	318	91.1	339	97.1
March	793	395	49.8	590	74.4	650	82.0	705	88.9	737	92.9
April	603	236	39.1	327	54.2	420	69.7	483	80.1	519	86.1
May	583	73	12.5	217	37.2	348	59.7	446	76.5	530	90.9
June	628	177	28.2	395	62.9	479	76.3	533	84.9	577	91.9
July	578	100	17.3	337	58.3	420	72.7	466	80.6	524	90.7
August	486	90	18.5	278	57.2	336	69.1	389	80.0	450	92.6
September	530	110	20.8	263	49.6	353	66.6	423	79.8	483	91.1
October	524	92	17.6	282	53.8	366	69.8	429	81.9	481	91.8
November	548	166	30.3	335	61.1	416	75.9	466	85.0	486	88.7
December	458	209	45.6	305	66.6	341	74.5	379	82.8	410	89.5

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report
Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort
Table 9B. Number and Percent of Completes in the First 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 Days by File Month
(Cell phone only, restricted to interviews from state/territory)
File Month	Monthly Interviews Completed	Number and Percent of Interviews with Final Disposition Codes of 1100 (Complete) and 1200 (Partial Complete) Completed in the First
File Month	Monthly Total	5 days	% of monthly interviews	10 days	% of monthly interviews	15 days	% of monthly interviews	20 days	% of monthly interviews	25 days	% of monthly interviews
January	365	58	15.9	145	39.7	160	43.8	200	54.8	290	79.5
February	367	4	1.1	33	9.0	157	42.8	252	68.7	312	85.0
March	362	2	0.6	88	24.3	178	49.2	246	68.0	293	80.9
April	321	1	0.3	85	26.5	132	41.1	159	49.5	222	69.2
May	300	15	5.0	69	23.0	101	33.7	152	50.7	204	68.0
June	310	2	0.6	65	21.0	135	43.5	187	60.3	240	77.4
July	292	48	16.4	92	31.5	143	49.0	188	64.4	235	80.5
August	328	17	5.2	54	16.5	202	61.6	231	70.4	283	86.3
September	373	51	13.7	117	31.4	165	44.2	271	72.7	331	88.7
October	757	153	20.2	180	23.8	336	44.4	473	62.5	613	81.0
November	597	98	16.4	121	20.3	310	51.9	407	68.2	472	79.1
December	380	0	0.0	93	24.5	192	50.5	258	67.9	293	77.1

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort Table 10A. Date and Day of Week of Final Disposition Code, By File Month (Base= numbers with one or more attempts; Landline only)
File Month	Date of Final Disposition	Day of Week	Number of Interviewers	Number of Dispositions	Percent Completed	Cumulative Percent	Minimum Number of Attempts	Mean Number of Attempts	Maximum Number of Attempts
January	01/10/2017	Tuesday	2	100	1.44	1.44	1	1	1
January	01/11/2017	Wednesday	1	129	1.86	3.29	1	1	1
January	01/12/2017	Thursday	4	334	4.81	8.10	1	1	3
January	01/13/2017	Friday	6	478	6.88	14.98	1	1	1
January	01/14/2017	Saturday	1	41	0.59	15.57	1	1	1
January	01/15/2017	Sunday	9	482	6.94	22.50	1	1	1

January	02/09/2017	Thursday	7	313	4.50	97.94	13	15	16
January	02/10/2017	Friday	15	101	1.45	99.40	14	15	17
January	02/11/2017	Saturday	5	36	0.52	99.91	14	16	17
January	02/12/2017	Sunday	1	6	0.09	100.00	17	17	17
			405	6,950	100.00

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort Table 10B. Date and Day of Week of Final Disposition Code, By File Month (Base= numbers with one or more attempts; Cell phone only, restricted to state/territory)
File Month	Date of Final Disposition	Day of Week	Number of Interviewers	Number of Dispositions	Percent Completed	Cumulative Percent	Minimum Number of Attempts	Mean Number of Attempts	Maximum Number of Attempts
January	01/12/2017	Thursday	3	17	0.37	0.37	1	1	2
January	01/13/2017	Friday	2	14	0.31	0.68	1	1	1
January	01/14/2017	Saturday	1	2	0.04	0.73	1	1	1
January	01/15/2017	Sunday	6	14	0.31	1.04	1	1	1
January	01/16/2017	Monday	7	90	1.98	3.02	1	2	2
January	01/17/2017	Tuesday	7	59	1.30	4.32	1	2	3

January	02/08/2017	Wednesday	27	727	16.03	65.67	7	8	10
January	02/09/2017	Thursday	12	1,007	22.20	87.87	8	8	9
January	02/10/2017	Friday	23	540	11.90	99.78	8	8	9
January	02/11/2017	Saturday	2	10	0.22	100.00	9	9	10
			308	4,536	100.00

Shape68

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report
Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort
Table 11A. Eligibility and Status by Categories of Disposition Code, Year-to-Date
			(Landline only)
Number of listed landline sample: 99009
Number of unlisted landline sample: 219531
Disposition Status COIN (Completes and Partial Completes) TERE (Break offs, terminations, and refusals) HH (Known households) ELIG (Eligible) INELIG (Ineligible) UNKELIG (Unknown eligible)	Frequency Listed + Not Listed 6,461 2,794 16,186 13,325 249,240 55,975	Percent Listed + Not Listed 2.03 0.88 5.08 4.18 78.24 17.57	Frequency Listed 5,874 2,479 14,368 11,896 45,881 41,232	Percent Listed 5.93 2.50 14.51 12.02 46.34 41.64	Frequency Not Listed 587 315 1,818 1,429 203,359 14,743	Percent Not Listed 0.27 0.14 0.83 0.65 92.63 6.72

Shape69 Note: Categories are not mutally exclusive, total percents can be more than 100%

Shape70 Shape71

Disposition Status	Frequency	Percent
COIN (Completes and Partial Completes)	4,752	5.32
TERE (Break offs, terminations, and refusals)	1,355	1.52
HH (Known households)	6,338	7.10
ELIG (Eligible)	6,334	7.09
INELIG (Ineligible)	41,454	46.43
Total Note: Categories are not mutually exclus	108,059 ive, total per	121.03 cent can be more than 100%

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report
Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort
Table 12A. Eligibility and Status by Categories of Disposition Code, by File Month
					(Landline only)
File Month	COIN (Completes and Partial Completes)		TERE (Break offs, terminations, and refusals)		HH (Known households)		ELIG (Eligible)		INELIG (Ineligible)
File Month	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
January	381	6	185	7	923	6	764	6	11,568	5
February	349	5	161	6	849	5	694	5	11,667	5
March	793	12	283	10	1,849	11	1,521	11	26,166	10
April	603	9	238	9	1,468	9	1,208	9	22,927	9
May	583	9	276	10	1,538	10	1,278	10	23,021	9
June	628	10	274	10	1,478	9	1,227	9	23,007	9
July	578	9	239	9	1,361	8	1,148	9	19,985	8
August	486	8	214	8	1,293	8	973	7	21,781	9
September	530	8	244	9	1,437	9	1,194	9	20,176	8
October	524	8	250	9	1,435	9	1,178	9	22,551	9
November	548	8	234	8	1,359	8	1,147	9	23,785	10
December	458	7	196	7	1,196	7	993	7	22,606	9

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort Table 12B. Eligibility and Status by Categories of Disposition Code, by File Month (Cell phone only, restricted to state/territory, does not include out of state interviews)
File Month	COIN (Completes and Partial Completes)		TERE (Break offs, terminations, and refusals)		HH (Known households)		ELIG (Eligible)		INELIG (Ineligible)
File Month	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
January	365	8	76	6	459	7	459	7	2,947	7
February	367	8	80	6	466	7	466	7	2,938	7
March	362	8	76	6	456	7	456	7	2,908	7
April	321	7	111	8	451	7	449	7	2,696	7
May	300	6	100	7	413	7	413	7	2,681	6
June	310	7	84	6	410	6	410	6	2,732	7
July	292	6	101	7	405	6	405	6	2,957	7
August	328	7	121	9	467	7	466	7	2,735	7
September	373	8	105	8	486	8	486	8	2,795	7
October	757	16	213	16	1,000	16	999	16	5,881	14
November	597	13	165	12	802	13	802	13	6,136	15
December	380	8	123	9	523	8	523	8	4,048	10

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort

Table 13A. Detailed Disposition Code, Year-to-Date

(Landline only)

Shape72 Shape73 Shape74 Shape75 Shape76 Shape77 Shape78 Shape79

Disposition Code-Description	Frequency	Percent
1100 - Complete	5,715	1.8
1200 - Partial complete	746	0.2
2111 - Household level refusal	982	0.3
2112 - Known respondent refusal	1,100	0.3
2120 - Breakoff/termination within questionnaire	712	0.2
2210 - Respondent never available	1,200	0.4
2220 - Household answering device(landline only)	2,352	0.7
2320 - Respondent physically or mentally unable to complete interview	483	0.2
2330 - Language barrier, selected respondent	35	0.0
3100 - Unknown if housing unit	14,491	4.5
3130 - No answer	16,076	5.0
3140 - Answering device, unknown if residence or respondent available	19,804	6.2
3150 - Telecommunication barrier	1,954	0.6
3200 - Household, not known if respondent eligible	2,861	0.9
3322 - Physical or mental impairment(household level)	619	0.2
3330 - Language barrier(household level)	170	0.1
4100 - Out of sample	118	0.0
4200 - Fax/data/modem	6,335	2.0
4300 - Nonworking number/disconnected	197,950	62.1
4400 - Technological barrier	17,306	5.4
4430 - Call forwarding/pager	50	0.0
4450 - Cell phone (landline only)	3,612	1.1
4500 - Non-residence	22,161	7.0
4510 - Group home	65	0.0
4700 - Household no eligible respondent	18	0.0
4900 - Miscellaneous, non-eligible	1,625	0.5
All disposition codes	318,540	100.0

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report
Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort
Table 13B. Detailed Disposition Code, Year-to-Date
(Cell phone only, restricted to state/territory, does not include out of state interviews)
Disposition Code-Description	Frequency	Percent
1100 - Complete	3,873	4.3
1200 - Partial complete	879	1.0
2112 - Known respondent refusal	588	0.7
2120 - Breakoff/termination within questionnaire	767	0.9
2210 - Respondent never available	189	0.2
2320 - Respondent physically or mentally unable to complete interview	21	0.0
2330 - Language barrier, selected respondent	17	0.0
3100 - Unknown if housing unit	23,052	25.8
3130 - No answer	540	0.6
3140 - Answering device, unknown if residence or respondent available	16,760	18.8
3150 - Telecommunication barrier	563	0.6
3200 - Household, not known if respondent eligible	3	0.0
3322 - Physical or mental impairment(household level)	191	0.2
3330 - Language barrier(household level)	382	0.4
3700 - On never call list	1	0.0
4100 - Out of sample	67	0.1
4200 - Fax/data/modem	18	0.0
4300 - Nonworking number/disconnected	29,701	33.3
4400 - Technological barrier	8,837	9.9
4430 - Call forwarding/pager	8	0.0
4460 - Landline (cell phone only)	341	0.4
4500 - Non-residence	1,628	1.8
4510 - Group home	25	0.0
4700 - Household no eligible respondent	808	0.9
4900 - Miscellaneous, non-eligible	21	0.0
All disposition codes	89,280	100.0

Shape80 Shape81 Shape82 Shape83 Shape84 Shape85 Shape86

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort

Table 14A. Detailed Disposition Code, by File Month

(Landline only)

File Month

Disposition

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Code

Description

1100

Complete

336

2.2

314

2.1

703

2.1

539

1.8

512

1.7

559

1.9

520

2.0

429

1.6

461

1.8

459

1.6

476

1.6

407

1.4

1200

Partial complete

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.2

2111

Household level

refusal

0.4

0.3

120

0.4

0.3

107

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.2

2112

Known respondent

refusal

0.5

103

0.3

111

0.4

0.3

102

0.4

103

0.4

103

0.3

0.2

4450

Cell phone

(landline only)

151

1.0

194

1.3

438

1.3

364

1.2

324

1.1

326

1.1

299

1.1

268

1.0

287

1.1

343

1.2

321

1.1

297

1.0

4500

Non-residence

985

6.5

967

6.4

2,195

6.5

2,120

7.2

2,097

7.1

1,973

6.7

1,878

7.2

1,909

7.3

1,897

7.3

2,154

7.5

2,077

6.9

1,909

6.6

4510

Group home

0.0

4700

Household no

eligible respondent

0.0

4900

Miscellaneous,

non-eligible

1,615

6.2

0.0

15,090

100.0

15,090

100.0

33,720

100.0

29,550

100.0

29,550

100.0

29,550

100.0

26,040

100.0

26,040

100.0

26,040

100.0

28,800

100.0

30,270

100.0

28,800

100.0

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report Section III: Magnitude and Consistency of Effort

Table 14B. Detailed Disposition Code, by File Month

(Cell phone only, restricted to state/territory, does not include out of state interviews)

File Month

Disposition

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Code

Description

1100

Complete

288

4.6

307

5.0

310

5.0

260

4.4

252

4.3

253

4.3

246

4.0

272

4.4

305

4.9

591

4.6

486

3.8

303

3.5

1200

Partial

complete

1.2

1.0

0.8

1.0

0.8

1.0

0.7

0.9

1.1

166

1.3

111

0.9

2112

Known

respondent

refusal

0.5

0.7

0.9

0.5

0.8

0.7

100

0.8

0.5

0.6

4460

Landline (cell phone only)

0.3

0.2

0.3

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.5

0.4

0.5

0.3

4500

Non-residence

105

1.7

1.4

126

2.0

126

2.1

1.5

107

1.8

147

2.4

109

1.8

135

2.2

232

1.8

211

1.6

154

1.8

4510

Group home

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.1

0.0

4700

Household no

eligible

respondent

0.7

1.0

0.8

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.1

0.9

0.8

133

1.0

144

1.1

0.7

4900

Miscellaneous,

non-eligible

0.1

0.0

6,240

100.0

6,180

100.0

6,210

100.0

5,880

100.0

5,850

100.0

5,880

100.0

6,180

100.0

6,180

100.0

6,210

100.0

12,780

100.0

12,930

100.0

8,760

100.0

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report Section IV: Proper Assignment of Disposition Codes

Table 15A. Number of Attempts, by File Month (Landline only)

Attempts

File Month

Year-to-Date

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

2,084

30.0

2,140

31.3

2,880

22.3

2,236

19.4

1,872

16.2

2,531

22.1

3,457

30.6

3,226

28.8

3,281

28.0

1,279

13.2

1,262

13.5

1,041

12.0

27,289

22.1

984

14.2

946

13.8

1,643

12.7

1,435

12.4

1,536

13.3

1,546

13.5

1,299

11.5

1,418

12.7

1,767

15.1

1,468

15.1

1,073

11.5

1,077

12.4

16,192

13.1

419

6.0

369

5.4

787

6.1

698

6.0

1,283

11.1

808

7.0

612

5.4

641

5.7

788

6.7

776

8.0

642

6.9

561

6.5

8,384

6.8

199

2.9

235

3.4

504

3.9

392

3.4

477

4.1

413

3.6

320

2.8

341

3.0

422

3.6

341

3.5

348

3.7

314

3.6

4,306

3.5

147

2.1

144

2.1

358

2.8

314

2.7

359

3.1

263

2.3

229

2.0

325

2.9

285

2.4

262

2.7

233

2.5

251

2.9

3,170

2.6

288

4.1

256

3.7

602

4.7

817

7.1

631

5.5

632

5.5

483

4.3

498

4.4

412

3.5

411

4.2

460

4.9

391

4.5

5,881

4.8

1.2

118

1.7

223

1.7

250

2.2

220

1.9

176

1.5

189

1.7

479

4.3

180

1.5

179

1.8

160

1.7

165

1.9

2,424

2.0

101

1.5

100

1.5

185

1.4

173

1.5

173

1.5

163

1.4

143

1.3

1,658

14.8

129

1.1

165

1.7

120

1.3

4,206

48.5

7,316

5.9

1.3

0.9

163

1.3

182

1.6

156

1.4

133

1.2

164

1.5

0.9

139

1.2

1.0

133

1.4

310

3.6

1,722

1.4

890

12.8

909

13.3

1,935

15.0

1,498

13.0

1,620

14.1

1,729

15.1

1,549

13.7

853

7.6

1,517

12.9

1,639

16.9

3,971

42.4

362

4.2

18,472

15.0

0.7

101

0.8

0.7

0.4

0.7

0.8

0.7

831

0.7

1,099

15.8

1,010

14.8

2,380

18.4

2,487

21.5

2,149

18.6

1,980

17.3

1,940

17.2

1,127

10.1

1,902

16.2

2,138

22.0

828

8.8

19,040

15.5

0.6

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.4

0.3

0.7

0.6

0.4

638

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.5

0.6

0.4

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.5

0.8

0.1

505

0.4

15+

442

6.4

454

6.6

1,003

7.8

831

7.2

829

7.2

872

7.6

751

6.6

425

3.8

691

5.9

730

7.5

0.1

7,037

5.7

Total

6,950

100.0

6,842

100.0

12,908

100.0

11,546

100.0

11,528

100.0

11,468

100.0

11,307

100.0

11,196

100.0

11,726

100.0

9,701

100.0

9,357

100.0

8,678

100.0

123,207

100.0

Shape87

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section IV: Proper Assignment of Disposition Codes

Table 15B. Number of Attempts, by File Month

(Cell phone only, restricted to state/territory, does not include out of state interviews)

Shape88 Shape89

Attempts

File Month

Year-to-Date

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

293

6.5

304

7.2

449

9.9

345

7.9

268

6.3

322

7.5

437

9.5

513

10.3

383

8.0

636

6.5

707

7.4

380

6.0

5,037

7.6

686

15.1

500

11.9

656

14.5

666

15.2

589

13.9

594

13.8

671

14.6

787

15.8

841

17.6

1,735

17.7

1,671

17.5

1,052

16.7

10,448

15.8

523

11.5

420

10.0

453

10.0

472

10.8

463

10.9

494

11.5

494

10.7

525

10.5

527

11.0

1,174

12.0

1,088

11.4

614

9.7

7,247

10.9

251

5.5

280

6.7

259

5.7

267

6.1

250

5.9

250

5.8

213

4.6

292

5.9

288

6.0

526

5.4

542

5.7

317

5.0

3,735

5.6

232

5.1

192

4.6

194

4.3

198

4.5

183

4.3

177

4.1

179

3.9

211

4.2

208

4.3

424

4.3

515

5.4

309

4.9

3,022

4.6

197

4.3

197

4.7

199

4.4

196

4.5

197

4.7

176

4.1

184

4.0

223

4.5

226

4.7

439

4.5

4,730

49.5

3,091

48.9

10,055

15.2

112

2.5

111

2.6

145

3.2

153

3.5

126

3.0

121

2.8

119

2.6

138

2.8

105

2.2

241

2.5

266

2.8

544

8.6

2,181

3.3

2,171

47.9

2,101

50.0

1,793

39.7

2,059

46.9

2,078

49.1

1,070

24.9

2,237

48.5

2,246

45.1

1,986

41.5

4,437

45.4

0.4

0.1

22,226

33.6

1.5

2.2

352

7.8

0.7

1.7

1.5

0.9

1.6

136

1.4

0.0

1,007

1.5

0.0

0.1

0.3

0.0

0.2

993

23.1

0.1

0.0

146

3.0

0.2

1,198

1.8

0.1

0.0

0.5

0.0

0.1

0.0

0.2

0.0

Total

4,536

100.0

4,203

100.0

4,518

100.0

4,388

100.0

4,233

100.0

4,291

100.0

4,608

100.0

4,983

100.0

4,791

100.0

9,777

100.0

9,559

100.0

6,316

100.0

66,203

100.0

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report
Section V: Unit Nonresponse
Table 16A. Cumulative Outcome Rates, Year-to-Date by File Month
(Landline only)
File Month	Resolution rate	Interview completion rate	Cooperation rate^a	Refusal rate^b	AAPOR response rate^c
January	81.7%	67.3%	57.6%	19.8%	40.8%
February	81.8%	67.8%	57.8%	19.4%	41.0%
March	82.0%	70.8%	59.7%	17.3%	41.9%
April	81.9%	71.0%	59.4%	17.0%	41.6%
May	82.0%	70.3%	59.1%	17.1%	40.6%
June	82.0%	70.2%	59.4%	17.4%	40.9%
July	81.9%	70.3%	59.4%	17.3%	40.9%
August	82.6%	70.2%	59.2%	17.5%	41.2%
September	82.5%	70.0%	59.2%	17.4%	40.7%
October	82.5%	69.8%	59.0%	17.4%	40.2%
November	82.5%	69.8%	59.0%	17.4%	40.1%
December	82.4%	69.8%	58.9%	17.3%	40.0%
^aAAPOR Cooperation rate, version 2 formula, does not include disposition code 2220 ^bAAPOR Refusal rate, version 4 formula ^cAAPOR Response rate, version 4 formula

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report
Section V: Unit Nonresponse
Table 16B. Cumulative Outcome Rates, Year-to-Date by File Month
(Cell phone only, restricted to state/territory, does not include out of state interviews)
File Month	Resolution rate	Interview completion rate	Cooperation rate^a	Refusal rate^b	AAPOR response rate^c
January	54.6%	82.8%	79.5%	9.0%	43.4%
February	54.8%	82.4%	79.1%	9.2%	43.4%
March	54.6%	82.5%	79.2%	9.2%	43.3%
April	54.3%	80.5%	77.3%	10.2%	42.0%
May	54.1%	79.5%	76.5%	10.7%	41.3%
June	54.0%	79.3%	76.3%	10.7%	41.2%
July	54.0%	78.7%	75.8%	11.1%	40.9%
August	53.7%	77.9%	75.1%	11.4%	40.3%
September	53.6%	77.9%	75.3%	11.4%	40.4%
October	53.7%	78.0%	75.4%	11.4%	40.5%
November	53.7%	78.0%	75.2%	11.4%	40.4%
December	53.5%	77.8%	75.0%	11.5%	40.2%
^aAAPOR Cooperation rate, version 2 formula, does not include disposition code 2220 ^bAAPOR Refusal rate, version 4 formula ^cAAPOR Response rate, version 4 formula

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section VI: Item Nonresponse

Table 17A. Income (77 and 99 collapsed), Year-to-Date

Base=Completes only (Landline only)

Income Levels

Male

Female

Total

Frequency

Percent

Frequency

Percent

Frequency

Percent

LT 10K

4.0

266

6.3

354

5.5

10-15K

3.7

258

6.1

340

5.3

15-20K

140

6.4

313

7.4

453

7.1

20-25K

148

6.7

365

8.6

513

8.0

25-35K

187

8.5

433

10.3

620

9.7

35-50K

279

12.7

497

11.8

776

12.1

50-75K

306

13.9

490

11.6

796

12.4

75+K

717

32.6

867

20.5

1,584

24.7

Unknown/Refused

253

11.5

733

17.4

986

15.4

Total

2,200

100.0

4,222

100.0

6,422

100.0

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section VI: Item Nonresponse

Table 17B. Income (77 and 99 collapsed), Year-to-Date

Base=Completes only (Cell phone only, restricted to state/territory, does not include out of state interviews)

Income Levels

Male

Female

Total

Frequency

Percent

Frequency

Percent

Frequency

Percent

LT 10K

110

4.9

194

8.0

304

6.5

10-15K

108

4.8

171

7.0

279

5.9

15-20K

173

7.6

228

9.3

401

8.5

20-25K

202

8.9

247

10.1

449

9.5

25-35K

188

8.3

253

10.4

441

9.4

35-50K

256

11.3

231

9.5

487

10.4

50-75K

279

12.3

250

10.2

529

11.3

75+K

721

31.9

532

21.8

1,253

26.6

Unknown/Refused

225

9.9

334

13.7

559

11.9

Total

2,262

100.0

2,440

100.0

4,702

100.0

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section VII: Household Rosters, Number of Adults, and Number of Phones

Table 18. Household Roster Status, by File month,

Base=Records with Partial or Complete Household Rosters (Landline only)

File Month	Partial		Inconsistent		Consistent		Total
File Month	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
January		0.0		0.0	381	100.0	381	100.0
February		0.0		0.0	349	100.0	349	100.0
March		0.0		0.0	793	100.0	793	100.0
April		0.0		0.0	603	100.0	603	100.0
May		0.0		0.0	583	100.0	583	100.0
June		0.0		0.0	628	100.0	628	100.0
July		0.0		0.0	578	100.0	578	100.0
August		0.0		0.0	486	100.0	486	100.0
September		0.0		0.0	530	100.0	530	100.0
October		0.0		0.0	524	100.0	524	100.0
November		0.0		0.0	548	100.0	548	100.0
December		0.0		0.0	458	100.0	458	100.0
Total		0.0		0.0	6,461	100.0	6,461	100.0

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section VII: Household Rosters, Number of Adults, and Number of Phones Table 19. Number of Adults by File Month and Year-to-Date Base=Completes only (Landline only)

File Month

Adults in HH

January

149

5.9

180

5.9

6.6

4.0

5.7

February

130

5.2

187

6.1

2.8

5.0

8.6

6.3

March

295

11.7

384

12.5

14.0

14.3

12.5

April

226

9.0

289

9.4

9.8

9.0

14.3

12.5

100.0

May

247

9.8

261

8.5

8.7

9.0

2.9

6.3

June

244

9.7

285

9.3

11.8

8.0

17.1

12.5

July

221

8.8

279

9.1

8.1

12.0

2.9

12.5

August

187

7.4

230

7.5

8.1

6.5

5.7

12.5

100.0

September

213

8.5

237

7.7

8.4

10.0

8.6

18.8

100.0

October

194

7.7

265

8.7

4.0

5.7

November

219

8.7

257

8.4

7.6

9.0

11.4

6.3

100.0

December

187

7.4

207

6.8

7.0

9.5

2.9

Year-to-Date

2,512

100.0

3,061

100.0

633

100.0

200

100.0

2017 Year-To-Date Data Quality Report

Section VII: Household Rosters, Number of Adults, and Number of Phones Table 20. Number of Phones by File Month and Year-to-Date Base=Completes only (Landline only)

File Month

Phones in HH

January

366

5.9

5.0

8.1

14.3

50.0

February

335

5.4

8.5

2.7

14.3

March

764

12.2

10.6

27.0

14.3

April

586

9.4

5.0

10.8

28.6

May

562

9.0

9.2

5.4

June

610

9.8

7.8

8.1

28.6

50.0

July

555

8.9

11.3

8.1

August

472

7.6

6.4

2.7

September

508

8.1

9.9

10.8

100.0

October

509

8.2

8.5

8.1

November

529

8.5

11.3

5.4

December

444

7.1

6.4

2.7

Year-to-Date

6,240

100.0

141

100.0

Appendix G: Crisis Protocol

Crisis Protocol

Step 1: Recognize that a respondent is possibly distressed.

Signs that a respondent is possibly in crisis:

Hesitancy to answer a question or questions;
Refusal to answer questions or to continue the interviewing process;
Lowering of the volume or tone of his/her voice;
Responding in an agitated manner by raising his/her voice or using inappropriate language;
Crying;
Indications of tremors, a quavering in the respondent's voice;
Disorganization, dissociation, or non-responsiveness to questions asked.

Step 2: Assess the level of distress that a respondent is apparently experiencing.

Below is a table that provides the some guidance to you as to what indicators you might become aware of on the telephone indicating that a person is in distress or approaching a crisis.

Level of Distress

Signs or Indicators of Distress

Level 1 : Minimal

Change in voice tone or volume.

Changes in focus.

Hesitancy to answer questions.

Level 2: In-Need of Referral

Level 1 signs plus any of the following:

Displays an unwillingness or hesitancy to continue.

Sobbing, weeping, and/or crying on the telephone.

Displays other obvious signs of agitation.

Level 3: Immediate Help

Includes a combination or all of the signs for Level 1 and/or Level 2 plus the following:

Respondent openly states the intention to hurt her/himself.

Respondent openly states his/her intention to hurt other people.

Respondent openly asks for help.

Step 3: Respond appropriately to the situation.

Based on your assessment of the level of distress it is imperative that you react appropriately and with sensitivity.

Distress Level

Interviewer Actions

Supervisor Actions

Project Management Actions

Level 1

Assess where you are in the questionnaire and ask respondent if it is ok to continue:

“Is it ok to continue?“

Depending on how s/he answers and where you are in the questionnaire you may do the following:

Yes - Continue with sensitivity.
Yes, but not now :
Are you in the Adverse Childhood Experiences section?
If no, Suspend,
and offer the 1-800 number (s) from your help screen . Record the seqno and alert your supervisor.
If you are in the Adverse Childhood Experiences section. Do not offer to call back later—for these sections if respondent does not want to continue, please offer the hotline number and offer to connect the respondent to the hotline (based on crisis level). Record seqno, alert your supervisor. Suspend and disposition as 2320 “Respondent ended interview due to distress”
Sections Record seqno and Alert your supervisor.
No, don’t want to continue ever – terminate and thank. Write “DO NOT CALL BACK” in message field and alert supervisor. Use disposition as 2320 “Respondent ended interview due to distress”
Hangs up – suspend with a note about the situation and alert supervisor.

If needed: Come over to the interviewer and be prepared to help out by connecting or doing a hot transfer to the hotline.

Supervisor is alerted for all interviews that terminate or result in a hang-up after the offer of a break.

Supervisor will get the seqno for the case and will inform the project managers about the situation – date, time, and a detailed description of the interaction between the interviewer and the respondent, including the survey question at which it occurred.

Project Managers review the case and possibly follow-up with the supervisor and interviewer for more information.

Project Management decides if any follow-up calls are made to the hang-ups or terminated interviews

Level 2

Raise your hand and get a supervisor’s attention while you affirm what you hear:

“I can hear that this interview is upsetting you. Would you like some help? I can provide you a phone number or connect you to someone who can help you. If the respondent says YES – refer to the hotline number in your special screen the appropriate referral (hotline number listed below) based on what the respondent seems to be upset about.

If the respondent says NO, or if they say “yes” to you providing the phone number, but they don’t want you to connect them to the hotline/phone number now ask if s/he would like to continue the interview now or later
(PLEASE NOTE IF THE RESPONDENT DOES NOT WANT TO CONTINUE, DO NOT SCHEDULE A CALL BACK Disposition as 2320 “Respondent ended interview due to distress”):

Yes - Continue with sensitivity.
Yes, but not now - Suspend and schedule a callback and offer appropriate 1-800 numbers from your help screen. Record seqno and alert your supervisor
No, don’t want to continue ever – terminate and thank. Write “DO NOT CALL BACK” in message field and alert a supervisor. Disposition as 2320 “Respondent ended interview due to distress”
Hangs up – suspend with a note about the situation, and alert a supervisor.

Come over to the interviewer and be prepared to help out by connecting or doing a hot transfer to the hotline.

File an adverse event report with project management staff informing them that a referral was given, the seqno, the interviewer id, date, time, details of the interaction, if QA was listening, where it occurred in the interview, and if the appropriate protocols were followed.

Project Management reviews and files the adverse event report.

This type of report is kept by project management but not forwarded to the IRB.

Project Management decides if any follow-up calls are made to the hang-ups or terminated interviews.

Level 3

Raise your hand and get a supervisor’s attention.

If a respondent is exhibiting level 3 crisis signs, or reporting that they want to hurt themselves: Affirm what you hear:

“I can tell that this interview is upsetting you.”

“I can provide you a phone number of or connect you to someone who can help you now”

“I would like to stay on the line with you while my colleague calls X? OK?”

Keep the person informed about what is happening, do what the respondent says.

“This interview can be very stressful, and I think we should stop for now, but sometimes talking to someone can be helpful. I Can provide you a number or connect you to someone who may be able to help you now. Would you like me to give you the number, or connect you?”

If the respondent says YES, provide referral telephone numbers or connect (with supervisor help) before getting off the call.

If the person just asks to stop at any point, suspend with a terminal disposition 2320 “respondent ends interview due to distress”, or if s/he hangs up, disposition 2320 “respondent ends interview due to distress, with a note. Always record seqno and get supervisor help.

If a respondent reports that they want to hurt someone else:

Raise your hand and get a supervisors attention.
Assess the level of risk homicide by asking the following questions with a supervisor/QA present:

“Do you have a plan on how to do this?”

“Do you have the means or ability to carry out your plan?”

“Are you thinking of doing this now?”

If respondent says yes to 3 of the above, risk of harm is HIGH.

Attempt to keep respondent on phone if possible.
If respondent says yes to 1-2 of the above, supervisor will help asses risk.

Come over to the interviewer and be prepared to help out by connecting/doing a hot transfer to the hotline.

Signal for QA to get on the line too and take notes.

Make the necessary calls/hot transfers (SEE DETAIL BELOW FOR CALLS WHEN A RESPONDENTS REPORTS WANTING TO HURT SOMEONE ELSE)

If the respondent terminates the call before someone can be contacted for her, or before we can obtain her locations– call supervisor to find out whether additional calls can or should be made immediately.

The form needs to be filed on that shift. If a level 3 situation is encountered call center and project management need to be called.

Additional NOTE: IF A RESPONDENT REPORTS THEY WANT TO HURT SOMEONE ELSE. DO ALL OF THE ABOVE AS WELL AS THE FOLLOWING:

Help in the evaluation of risk, confirm if the respondent provides 1-3 YES’s and instruct the interviewer as to what to do – Make the necessary calls to local emergency services/local 911 services, based on respondent phone number. Explain to emergency services who you are, why you are calling and that you would like a house call to ensure that the household is safe.

Follow Level 3 protocol for call center management notification immediately; file and adverse event report form that shift.

Project Management reviews and files the adverse event report.

Project Management debriefs with the interviewer, supervisor and QA who filed the report as soon as possible.

IRB may advise about the need to change or revise protocols as a result of the event, or the appropriate follow-up to the event.

Project Management implements and follows-up as directed.

Project Management informs the call center staff about the outcomes of the event to the extent that they are able to and it is legally possible.

If there is to be a follow-up call to the respondent, Project Management will direct the call center as to how the callback is to be made (e.g., using an interviewer with special training.)

Step 4: Document the case—Adverse Event Report Form

When a Level 2 or Level 3 situation is encountered it is necessary to document the case immediately while the event is fresh in your mind. States nay want to track each event in which the respondent becomes upset or expresses concern about sensitive questions. Individual states may maintain a list of these events, their time and other information to use for training interviewers who are administering questionnaires with sensitive questions. At a minimum, states should record the seqno, time, date, details of the event – which should include the survey question at which the event occurred – so someone else can understand why it was assessed as a level 2 or 3, and the names and signatures of the call center staff who observed the event.

It is paramount that once you think you are in a level 2 or level 3 situation that you get someone else to be listening to the call – get the floor supervisor over, get QA on the line, get the interviewer next to you too until a supervisor comes over. Everyone and anyone who listens to all of part of the interaction needs to be included in tracking these incidents.

Step 5: Self- Care for You

Dealing with a difficult or crisis situation on the telephone can be emotionally draining and take a toll on you. After the call is over and you have documented, take a break. And when you go home at the end of your shift – take care of yourself even more. Refer to the training manual section on self-care for more information.

Situations Involving Other Individuals

If at any time during the telephone interview you believe that someone is listening in – perhaps you hear a telephone picked-up or you hear someone breathing other than the respondent, you should stop asking questions and ask if s/he would still like to continue the interview and do what s/he says – continue, suspend and schedule a callback, suspend with providing his/her information to call in, or terminate. Leave a message as to what occurred in the interviewer notes field of the CATI program.

If you hear someone, anyone, enter the location where the respondent is participating in the interview – you should ask her/him if s/he wants to continue at another time– continue, suspend and schedule a callback, suspend with providing her information to call in, or terminate. Leave a message as to what occurred in the interviewer notes field of the CATI program.

In either of the above cases, if the situation is too complex to be adequately described in the message field, alert a supervisor (make sure you give your supervisor the seqno), who will document the situation in an email that will be sent to Project Management.

Suicide Prevention Network Helpline:

1) National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Trained crisis workers are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your confidential and toll-free call goes to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. These centers provide crisis counseling to individuals who are suicidal or experiencing emotional distress. Mental health referrals are also provided.

Friday, November 2, 2018

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