Community Health Survey

Community Health Survey 2004 Methods

During CHS 2004 the methodology and questionnaire were improved in a number of ways. CHS 2004 continued to expand upon the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). In addition, several modules were added, updated, and/or brought back from 2002.

TARGET POPULATION:
As for CHS 2003, non-institutionalized adults aged 18 and older who live in a household with a landline telephone in New York City (the five borough area).

HEALTH TOPICS COVERED:
CHS 2004 had approximately 139 questions, covering the following health topics: general health status, health care access, physical activity, asthma in adults and children, diabetes, immunizations, smoking, second-hand smoke, alcohol consumption, demographics, obesity, cancer screening, roaches and pesticides, mental health, sexual risk behaviors, and HIV testing.

SAMPLING METHODOLOGY:
As in 2003, CHS 2004 used a stratified random sample in order to produce citywide, as well as neighborhood-specific estimates. Strata were defined using the United Hospital Fund’s (UHF) neighborhood designation. There are a total of 42 UHF neighborhoods in NYC, each defined by several adjoining zip codes. The total sample size goal is approximately 10,000, distributed among the 42 neighborhoods.

A computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) system is being used to collect the survey data. The CHS sampling frame is constructed with a list of telephone numbers provided by a commercial vendor. Upon agreement to participate in the survey, one adult was randomly selected from the household to complete the interview.

As in 2003, the survey was pre-translated in English, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin Chinese. In addition, Language Line, a translation service, is being used to conduct the survey in a wide variety of other languages. Data collection began in May 2003, and all data collected are self-report.

LIMITATIONS:
The survey sampling methodology does not capture the following groups: households without any telephone service and households that have only a cellular phone (only landlines are included in the initial sampling frame).

RESPONSE RATE:
The overall cooperation rate of the survey is nearly 60 percent, as defined by the BRFSS definition of a completed survey.

• Sample size: 9,585
• Response Rate: 14%*
• Cooperation Rate: 59% (1)

A detailed methodology report is available as a Microsoft Word document.

*This lower response rate compared to other years reflects more rigorous sample management of the UHFs and higher standard of reporting for response rates than in previous years.

(1) The American Association for Public Opinion Research. Standard definitions: Final dispositions of case codes and outcome rates for surveys. Ann Arbor, Michigan: AAPOR, 2000.

If you need assistance with the data or would like to suggest additional variables to be added, please send an email to survey@health.nyc.gov.