Hawaii Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Hawaii-BRFSS Questionnaire

The Hawaii-BRFSS is designed to gather information on health-related behaviors, chronic health conditions, healthcare access, and the use of preventive services across communities in Hawaii.

The survey includes three types of questions: core questions, optional modules, and state-added questions.

1. Core Questions – includes sets of questions determined by the CDC which must be asked by all states that conduct the BRFSS. These questions provide comparable national data. Core questions are divided into the fixed core, rotating core, and questions on emerging issues.
   • Fixed core – a standard set of questions asked every year by all states. The fixed core includes questions on demographic characteristics, health status, chronic conditions, and health behaviors, such as physical activity and tobacco use.
   • Rotating core – a distinct set of questions on various topics, which are asked in either 2, 3, or 4-year cycles. Rotating core topics include vaccination, nutrition, and cancer screening, among many others.
   • Emerging issues – questions that focus on “late-breaking” health-related issues.
2. Optional Modules – consists of sets of questions developed by the CDC that states may choose to include in their survey, based on their program’s specific needs and goals. An optional module must be asked intact, and the data collected will be eligible for national comparison.
3. State-Added Questions – developed by state programs to collect information to support ongoing programs and policy initiatives in Hawaii. State-added questions are not necessarily tested by the CDC but should come from vetted sources. Selected questions from optional modules may be asked as state-added questions if the complete module cannot be included.

The survey questionnaire is updated on an annual basis. Proposed content from accredited and responsible research organizations is reviewed and voted on by the Hawaii-BRFSS Workgroup and approved by CDC.