The core of our decision-making as an agency relies on evidence. Evidence can be scientific like surveillance or research or it can be administrative or financial (like return on investment). Whichever way you slice it- the key is to get good reliable information so that our public health system can make effective decisions as we execute our mission.
One of the tools that the statewide public health system relies upon is called the Arizona Behavioral Risk Factor Survey. We conduct the survey every year in AZ and examine the self-reported habits of thousands of people from across the state. The report contains key data on lifestyle risk factors contributing to the leading causes of death and chronic diseases- and measures the public health system’s progress on smoking, overweight, high blood pressure, exercise, flu/pneumonia vaccination, cholesterol, seat belt use, fruit/vegetable consumption and other risk factors.
We published our 2012 Report this week- providing key data that can be used to monitor and plan health promotion and help AZ’s public health system to better target our intervention strategies for chronic disease prevention in Arizona. Strategic wins in the new report include reductions in smoking, alcohol abuse, and obesity rates. Check it out and forward this year’s link to your Stakeholders.
