title: Independent state health surveys: responding to the need for local population health data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is high demand for local-level population health data. A national system of state and local data collection would help improve both population health and health care delivery. The primary source of state-level population health data for adults is the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. However, many states need data on children and adolescents, racial and ethnic subpopulations, consistent estimates for localities, or more in-depth information on key topics than the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System provides. Eleven state health surveys (SHSs) have emerged in an effort to address these gaps.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted in 2009 with representatives of 9 SHSs. The interviews were recorded, and data were transcribed, organized, and analyzed according to the query structure. This analysis identified (1) the core elements of SHS that have been successful in meeting needs for local data and (2) the processes and strategies used by state officials in creating these surveys.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Key findings include the following: (1) SHSs provide concrete data on local health issues that meet the needs of policy makers who wish to adopt evidence-based public health policies; (2) data from SHSs allow researchers to identify issues, apply for grants, and evaluate, assess, and track health indicators; (3) a "champion" is required to build the case for a survey and push through barriers to obtain funding and stakeholder buy-in; and (4) SHSs face challenges such as inconsistent funding and lack of uniform standards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Opportunities to support SHSs include (1) identifying sustained funding sources; (2) providing technical assistance and facilitating training to foster best practices, quality standards, and comparability across states; and (3) supporting an organization for SHS researchers to share resources, information, and experiences.
authors: Office of Disease Prevention, Office of the Director (Dr Portnoy), Health Services and Economics Branch, Applied Research Program, National Cancer Institute (Dr Breen), and Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (Dr Olson), National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland; Department of Clinical Sciences and Program in Population Sciences and Cancer Control, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas (Dr Lee); and UCLA School of Public Health (Dr Kincheloe) and UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (Dr Brown), University of California, Los Angeles (Dr Kincheloe). Ms McCormally is an independent consultant in Arlington, Virginia. †Deceased.
authors: Barry
authors: B
authors: Portnoy
authors: Simon J
authors: SJ
authors: Craddock Lee
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Kincheloe
authors: Nancy
authors: N
authors: Breen
authors: Jean L
authors: JL
authors: Olson
authors: Judy
authors: J
authors: McCormally
authors: E Richard
authors: ER
authors: Brown
mesh_terms: D006306:Health Surveys / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009111:Local Government; D011634:Public Health; D013219:State Government; D013689:Telephone; D014481:United States