From kws0303@doh.wa.gov Tue Oct 19 11:22:35 1999 Received: from mxu2.u.washington.edu (mxu2.u.washington.edu [140.142.32.9]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW99.09/8.9.3+UW99.09) with ESMTP id LAA30984 for ; Tue, 19 Oct 1999 11:22:34 -0700 Received: from smtp.doh.wa.gov (hub.doh.wa.gov [192.230.1.5]) by mxu2.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW99.09/8.9.3+UW99.08) with SMTP id LAA16408 for ; Tue, 19 Oct 1999 11:22:34 -0700 Received: from Connect2 Message Router by smtp.doh.wa.gov via Connect2-SMTP 4.32; Tue, 19 Oct 1999 11:22:18 -0700 Message-ID: <702D9A4A014C3700@smtp.doh.wa.gov> In-Reply-To: <80249A4A014C3700@smtp.doh.wa.gov> Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 11:21:47 -0700 From: "Simmons, Katrina W." Sender: "Simmons, Katrina W." To: ph-assess@u.washington.edu Subject: RE: feedback on proposed BRFSS redesign X-SMF-Hop-Count: 2 X-Mailer: Connect2-SMTP 4.32 MHS/SMF to SMTP Gateway I'm sending this to all of you because Lesa raised a good question -- Lesa, You asked about the proposed redesign of the BRFSS Questionnaire: From my recollection, one concern with new design is that it would take two years to gather data on all of the key BRFSS indicators, effectively doubling the cost of oversampling (at least for smaller jurisdictions). CDC has adapted some of the original design ideas based on feedback from state & county users (we aren't the only ones doing local data collection)! As CDC's BRFSS website implies, It would be possible to: Divide the state-wide sample in half, as sample A and sample B. Use CDC's sample A questions as state-added questions for sample B. Use CDC's sample B questions as state-added questions of sample A. That way, every respondent would get the same questions. CDC plans to increase the overall sample size, which means more data for every LHJ and -- if we follow this plan -- no extra cost to LHJs to get the data from the expanded sample. [The state's cost would go up.] Few LHJs would get enough data without oversampling, but they would have to buy a smaller oversample to get the same effective sample size. The oversampling should not cost significantly more than it does now if an LHJ uses the state questionnaire without modification. It may cost less because the state will have a larger sample throughout the state. Caution: LHJs would not automatically get an even distribution of respondents between the samples because the selection is random state-wide. Assuring a balance would not matter UNLESS there were different state-added questions for each sample later in the questionnaire. LHJs who contract for extra data collection could modify the state questionnaire (as they can now) for a fee. Because there are literally two samples, they could choose to use different questions in each sample, or not. These modifications would cost more than using the state-questionnaire without changes. Another Caution: The changes in the questionnaire design mean that the state programs will have to think carefully about the data and sample size they need. The decisions about what we will do have not been made yet. Althoug you shouldn't assume that all respondents will get all of the same questions, it is certainly possible to design the Washington State questionnaire that way. Thanks for your thoughts -- Please ask if you have other questions! Trina .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Please note that all incoming and outgoing messages with the Department of Health are subject to public disclosure. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katrina Wynkoop Simmons, BRFSS Coordinator Center for Health Statistics, 1112 Quince St., SE MS/PO Box 47814, Olympia, WA 98504-7814 Voice: 360-236-4322; FAX: 360-753-4135 E-mail: kws0303@doh.wa.gov wynk100w@cdc.gov [Please note: On October 25, the DOH email system will be changed to new software, and all my personal email addresses (as well as all old email messages) will be lost. For the next few months, you can use my current email address. If you'd like to be sure I can reach you via email after October, please send me a message in November, so that I can save your email address in the new software program.] .