Through a series of monthly telephone interviews, states uniformly collect data on the behaviors and conditions that place adults at risk for the chronic diseases, injuries, and preventable infectious diseases that are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the District of Columbia and the United States. Data is used to direct policy development and program planning and to evaluate programs, set priorities, design interventions, assess trends, and target risk groups. Protecting the confidentiality of respondents is of fundamental importance. Respondents are frequently concerned about confidentiality, and interviewers must be able to assure the respondents that their confidentiality is protected. Using Surveillance in Disease Prevention Epidemiology assesses the distribution of disease in populations and the factors that influence or determine its distribution.
Surveillance monitors changes and trends over time in factors related to disease in populations.
Much chronic disease research is based on the idea that multiple causes contribute to the development of chronic diseases. Data collection and analytic techniques now permit complex analysis of multiple risk factors and patterns of risk in population. About half of all deaths occurring annually are now attributed to modifiable behavioral risk factors. These risk factors include uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, poor diet, alcohol abuse, violence, and risky sexual behavior. When more detailed information about specific public health needs is available, health interventions can be better targeted and more immediate, and such improvements can reduce waste.