The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62351

Willi Horner-Johnson, PhD¹, Gloria L. Krahn, PhD, MPH², Charles E. Drum, JD, PhD¹, and Carla Culley, MPH². (1) Oregon Office on Disability and Health, Oregon Health & Science University, PO Box 574, Portland, OR 97207-0574, 503-494-9273, hornerjo@ohsu.edu, (2) Oregon Institute on Disability & Development, Oregon Health & Science University, PO Box 574, Child Development and Rehabilitation Center, Portland, OR 97207-0574

To date, much of the research on the BRFSS has focused on single variable/item analysis. The objectives of the BRFSS Health Behaviors and Outcomes study are to assess the health status of people with disabilities, identify single variables correlating with positive health status, and develop a multiple-variable predictive model of positive health status. This paper presents single variable and multiple variable analyses of the 1998 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System aggregated across 15 states. Variables in the model include demographic characteristics and social circumstances, provider mediated variables (e.g., health screenings, provision of health information), systems variables (e.g., access to health care), and individual health promoting or health risk behaviors (e.g., exercise, diet, and smoking). The presentation will describe the results of fitting various versions of the model to the data. Differences and similarities in the model for people with and without disabilities will be discussed. Implications for future research will be outlined.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will gain greater understanding of single and multiple variable predictors of health status for persons with disabilities.
• Participants will learn about modeling methods for analyzing the BRFSS data.
• Participants will become aware of future research implications and opportunities for large-scale data sets to predict health status of persons with disabilities.

Keywords: Health Assessment, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.