BRFSS - Interviewer Training - Make Quality A Priority: Understand The Questions

Interviewer
Training


	Section 1
	Section 2
	Overview
	Introduction
	BRFSS Protocol
	Eligible Houses
	Select Adults
	Proxy Interviews
	Second Contacts
	Confidentiality
	Say It Carefully
	The Right Steps
	Interview Quality
	Understanding
	Sensitivity
	Unintimidating
	Correct Selection
	Proper Recording
	Performance
	Courteous Tone
	Managing Problems
	Did You Know?
	Quiz Yourself
	Section 3
	Section 4

The Role of Interviewers

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Make Quality a Priority

Understand The Questions

Each year there are changes and additions to the BRFSS questionnaire. Obtain a copy of the questionnaire and read it thoroughly. Then discuss with your supervisor and other interviewers any topics or questions that make you uncomfortable or are unclear. Here are three reasons for discomfort with questions, and what you can do.

1. Unfamiliar terms

If you've never heard terms like "hemoglobin A one C" or "sigmoidoscopy," chances are good that some of your respondents won't know those words either. When they ask you, "what does that mean?" it doesn't inspire much confidence if you say, "I don't know; I'm just an interviewer."

Click on "What to do:" for more information.

or
click here to see an accessible version.

Sometimes the CATI screens themselves provide clues to tell you what some words mean. This screen provides a definition of blood cholesterol:

Graphic of a computer screen that an interviewer would use. Question 3.1 Blood cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the blood. Have you ever had your blood cholesterol checked? Answers an interviewer might check. #1 yes. #2 No #7 Don't know/Not sure #9 Refused

Information provided on this screen would help you answer a respondent's specific questions about their teeth:

Graphic of a computer screen that an interviewer would use. Question 6.2 How many of your permanent teeth have been removed because of tooth decay or gum disease? Do not include teeth lost for other reasons, such as injury or orthodontics. #1. 1 to 5. #2. 6 or more but not all. #3. All. #7. Don't know/not sure. #8. None. #9. Refused.

The Role of Interviewers

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This page last reviewed December 16, 2008

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services
Public Health Surveillance and Informatics Program Office (proposed)

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