Table of Contents
Description
The Alcohol and Tobacco for Adults (BRFSS) scale comprises a comprehensive set of questions aimed at assessing the smoking and alcohol consumption behaviors among adults, as part of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This survey instrument collects data regarding the prevalence of cigarette smoking, attempts to quit smoking, usage of smokeless tobacco products, and patterns of alcohol consumption over the past month. The survey’s structure includes various questions that not only identify current tobacco use status but also delve into the respondents’ drinking habits, examining both frequency and quantity of alcohol intake, thereby providing critical insights into adult behavioral health risks.
Authors and Contact Email
Nelson DE, Holtzman D, Bolen J, Stanwyck CA, Mack KA. Contact information not available.
Purpose
The purpose of the Alcohol and Tobacco for Adults (BRFSS) scale is to gather critical data on tobacco and alcohol usage among adults, informing public health policies and interventions aimed at reducing substance use and promoting healthier lifestyles.
Test Year
Information not available.
Administration Method and Scoring
The BRFSS is administered through telephone interviews, and scoring involves categorical responses indicating the frequency and amount of tobacco and alcohol use based on the respondents’ answers to standardized questions.
Reliability and Validity
The reliability and validity of measures from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) have been established through research, indicating that the instrument effectively captures accurate and consistent data related to adult alcohol consumption and tobacco use behaviors.
Factors and Subscales
The scale includes factors related to smoking status, attempts to quit, types of tobacco products used, alcohol consumption frequency, and alcohol consumption quantity.
Keywords
Alcohol, Tobacco, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC, Smoking, Alcohol Consumption, Chewing Tobacco, Snuff.
Items of ‘Alcohol and Tobacco for Adults (BRFSS)’
**Smoking Items:**
1. Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your life?
– 1. Yes
– 2. No [Skip to T5]
– 7. Don’t know/not sure [Skip to T5]
– 9. Refused [Skip to T5]
2. At present, do you smoke cigarettes every day, some days, or never?
– 1. Every day
– 2. Some days
– 3. Never [Skip to T4]
– 7. Don’t know/not sure [Skip to T5]
– 9. Refused [Skip to T5]
3. During the past 12 months, have you stopped smoking for a day or more because you were trying to quit smoking?
– 1. Yes [Skip to T5]
– 2. No [Skip to T5]
– 7. Don’t know/not sure [Skip to T5]
– 9. Refused [Skip to T5]
4. When did you stop smoking cigarettes regularly?
– 1. Within the past month (less than 1 month ago)
– 2. Within the past 3 months (at least 1 month but less than 3 months ago)
– 3. Within the past 6 months (at least 3 months but less than 6 months ago)
– 4. Within the past year (at least 6 months but less than 1 year ago)
– 5. Within the past 5 years (at least 1 year but less than 5 years ago)
– 6. Within the past 10 years (at least 5 years but less than 10 years ago)
– 7. 10 years ago or more
– 77. Don’t know/not sure
– 99. Refused
5. At present, do you use chewing tobacco, snuff, or “snus” every day, some days, or never?
– 1. Every day
– 2. Some days
– 3. Never
– 7. Don’t know/not sure
– 9. Refused
**Alcohol Consumption Items:**
1. During the past 30 days, how many days per week or per month did you consume at least one drink of any alcoholic beverage such as beer, malt beverage, or liquor?
– __ Days per week __ Days in the past 30 days
– 88 No drinks at all in the past 30 days [Finish the questions on alcohol]
– 77 Don’t know/not sure [Finish the questions on alcohol]
– 99 Refused [Finish the questions on alcohol]
2. A “drink” is defined as a beer of 12 ounces (350 cl), a glass of wine of 5 ounces (150 cl), or a shot of liquor. During the past 30 days, on the days when you drank, approximately how many drinks did you consume on average?
– __ Number of drinks
– 77 Don’t know/not sure
– 99 Refused
3. Taking into account all types of alcoholic beverages, how many times during the past 30 days did you consume X drinks or more [X = 5 for men, X = 4 for women] on one occasion?
– __ Time(s)
– 88 Never
– 77 Don’t know/not sure
– 99 Refused
4. During the past 30 days, what was the maximum number of drinks that you consumed on one occasion?
– __ Number of drinks
– 77 Don’t know/not sure
– 99 Refused
References
https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/index.htm
Nelson DE, Holtzman D, Bolen J, Stanwyck CA, Mack KA. Reliability and validity of measures from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Social and Preventive Medicine, 2001; 46, Suppl 1:S03-S42.