Answer the call!
Better public health is in the palm of your hand
Ever heard of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)? It’s the longest continuously running phone survey in the world. It measures changes in the health of people in our state and across the U.S. Here in Washington, the Department of Health manages the collection of health data for BRFSS. We partner with ICF International, a research company, to make the calls on our behalf.
Why should I answer the call?
If you receive a phone call from ICF International, it’s the Department of Health, asking you to participate in the survey. It takes about 25 minutes and asks questions about your general health and specific conditions like asthma, access to health care, and cancer screening. The information we collect helps us understand the health landscape in our state.
“The BRFSS survey has significantly contributed to public health by tracking health behaviors and measuring progress toward achieving national, state, and local public health objectives, including the Washington State Health Assessment”, said Jean Remsbecker, Director of the Washington State Center for Health Statistics.
Participants are randomly selected from a pool of both listed and unlisted phone numbers. More than one thousand phone interviews are competed every month.
How do I know it’s not spam?
Here are a few ways to verify that you are receiving a legitimate call asking you to participate in the BRFSS survey:
- If you have caller ID, it may indicate that the call is from ICF International.
- If you don’t answer the first time, ICF International will leave a voicemail. You can schedule an appointment at a convenient time for you, or ICF International may continue to call until they reach you.
BRFSS is voluntary and confidential.
BRFSS collects information on health factors such as tobacco use and insurance coverage. This critical information helps guide public health program planning across the state, and helps to evaluate the effectiveness of public health policies. We don’t know and won’t ask for your name. Your phone number (the one we call) is not connected to your survey responses.
You don’t have to participate, and if you do, you can decline to answer any question or stop participating at any time. We know you’re busy, so if we call you at an inconvenient time you can schedule another time to complete the survey.
Can I volunteer to participate in BRFSS?
Unfortunately, you cannot volunteer to participate in the BRFSS survey. To protect the quality of the health data we are collecting, and to ensure that the data accurately represents the people of Washington state, all participants are randomly selected.
Thank you to everyone who has participated in BRFSS over the years, and to those who will participate in the future! You have provided an invaluable public health service to your fellow Washingtonians.
