Global Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance

Behavioral risk factor surveillance involves systematically collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data on behaviors people engage in that put their health at risk. The opportunity exists to prevent the leading health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes by monitoring key lifestyle or behavioral risk factors including alcohol and tobacco use, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. The volume contains the latest information on surveillance by the international public health community, including:

-The WHO's Stepwise Approach.

-The U.S.'s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

-The Finbalt Health Monitor.

-The EURALIM Experience.

-The Mega Country Health Promotion Network.

-And much more.

This book is for those currently involved in planning or conducting chronic disease risk factor surveillance. It is also a valuable reference for those interested in developing a global network of persons involved in this arena.

"This book is a godsend to those working in the area of monitoring and understanding changes overtime in chronic disease risk factors. It is a collection of 18 chapters authored by experts around the world and provides a comprehensive insight into establishing and maintaining the surveillance of behavioural risk factors both in developed and developing countries."

(Qaiser Mukhtar, Journal of Epidemila Community Health, 59:6)

1. Introduction. D.V. McQueen, P. Puska. 2. Why is global surveillance necessary? Towards global surveillance of non-communicable disease risk factors: developments and challenges; P. Puska. 3. The who stepwise approach to surveillance (steps) of non-communicable disease risk factors; R. Bonita, et al. 4. Partnerships, strategies, and alliances for global surveillance; V. Lin. 5. Analysis and interpretation of data from the U.S. behavioural risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS); D. Holtzman. 6. Surveillance systems and data analysis: continuously collected behavioural data. British and American samples; S. Campostrini. 7. Finbalt health monitor, monitoring health behaviour in Finland and the Baltic countries; R. Prättälä, et al. 8. Towards a European health monitoring system. Results of a pilot study on physical activity; A. Rütten, et al. 9. Comparison of surveillance data on metropolitan and rural health. Diabetes in southern Australia as an example; D.H. Wilson. 10. Did they use it? Beyond the collection of surveillance information; J.M. Ottoson, D.H. Wilson. 11. Harmonising local health survey data. The EURALIM experience; A. Morabia, et al. 12. Analysis, interpretation, and use of complex social and behavioural surveillance data. Looking back in order to go forward; D.V. McQueen, L. Gauger Elsner. 13. Mega country health promotion network surveillance initiative. Strengthening the capacity of the world's most populous countries to monitor non-communicable disease behavioural risk factors; K.A. Douglas, et al. 14. Epidemiological surveillance system in Latin America andthe Caribbean. Perspectives, challenges, and solutions; L.de Salazar. 15. Creating a synthetic behavioural risk factor index to assess trends in surveillance data. An index of risk forcardio-vascular disease as an example; S. Campostrini, D.V. McQueen. 16. Perspectives on building infrastructure, comparing data, and using surveillance data in developing countries; D.V. McQueen, et al. 17. Non-communicable disease surveillance in Latin America and the Caribbean. Advances supported by the Pan American health organization; S.J. Corber, et al. 18. Perspectives on global risk factor surveillance. Lessons learned and challenges ahead; D.V. McQueen.