title: A comparison of national estimates from the National Health Interview Survey and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare national estimates from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors compared data from the 2 surveys on smoking, height, weight, body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, immunization, lack of insurance coverage, cost as a barrier to medical care, and health status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall national estimates were similar for 13 of the 14 measures examined. Small differences according to demographic characteristics were found for height and body mass index, with larger differences for health status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although estimates differed within subgroups, the BRFSS provided national estimates comparable to those of the NHIS. BRFSS national data could provide rapidly available information to guide national policy and program decisions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA. den2@cdc.gov
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Powell-Griner
authors.forename: Machell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Town
authors.forename: Mary Grace
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kovar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines