Inventory of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Environmental and Occupational Health Data
Sources and Surveillance Activities

Inventory of Data Sources

Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS) (Ontario)

Contact
Lynne Russell
RRFSS Coordinator
Central West Health Planning Information Network
10 George Street, Suite 301B
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 1C8
Tel: (905) 570-9952, ext. 238
Fax: (905) 570-0974
E-mail: lrussell@cwhpin.ca

Database URL
Cehip
www.cehip.org/rrfss

Organization Maintaining the Database
A consortium of 20 health units in Ontario forms the

RRFSS Working Group. Each month, a new concatenated data set is sent to each RRFSS representative from each RRFSS-participating health unit. It is the responsibility of the individual RRFSS representatives to maintain the data set. Issues and concerns about the data set are brought forward to the RRFSS Analysis Group and the RRFSS Working Group.

Purpose of Database
The information in the database is used to assist with program planning and evaluation (i.e., to prioritize health issues, direct operational plans, measure effectiveness of strategies, and monitor progress towards program goals and objectives); and for advocacy or to influence local interests; and to monitor trends over time.

Content
RRFSS uses telephone survey methodology to collect data on risk behaviours such as smoking, sun safety, physical activity, testing of well water, etc., along with data on knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on issues of public health importance such as pesticide use, immunizations in health care workers, support for smoke-free bylaws, etc.

RRFSS is population-based. Presently, there are 2 employment questions possibly allowing for preliminary sub-population analysis. Most of the RRFSS modules relate to behaviours and attitudes towards environmental issues of public health importance such as water testing, pesticide use, food safety, recreational water safety, smoke-free workplaces, etc.

Data elements: The data set includes variables that identify the month of data collection, the health unit identifier, and all core and optional questions. Person-level data without identifiers are available. Personal data includes: postal code, census division and subdivision, and birth date. Geolocators: municipal codes and postal codes.

In 2001, there were data on 12,817 completed CATI interviews; in 2002, data on 21,591 interviews. (Each calendar year, a new data set is created).

Year Database Established
RRFSS started as a pilot project in 1999 involving Health Canada, Cancer Care Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and the Durham Region Health Department. The system was modelled after the Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in the United States. By December 2001, 12 health units were involved in RRFSS, 21 by 2002. 2003 will be the third year of data collection for some health units.

Coverage Period
2001 to 2003; in January 2001, 4 health units commenced data collection; as of February 2003, 20 health units are participating in RRFSS.

Data Updates
Monthly

Data Provider
The Institute for Social Research (ISR) is the primary provider of the data.

Data Availability
The main users of the information in the database are epidemiologists in Public Health Units in Ontario; no one outside of RRFSS-participating health units has direct access to the data. Access to the RRFSS data set requires a formal written request to each RRFSS-participating health unit (RRFSS External Data Requests). A RRFSS-participating health unit may not release any information concerning another RRFSS-participating health unit without written notification (RRFSS Internal Data Request)

There are data-sharing agreements among the Public Health Units across Ontario.

Reports
Each RRFSS-participating health unit produces their own reports to meet their health unit's needs. Any RRFSS reports can be found on the web site, for example, the 2001 Evaluation Report. Annual RRFSS results for core modules only are posted on the web site (includes only those RRFSS-participating health units that sign a web site agreement).

Additional Comments
RRFSS is administered by the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at York University. All interviewing is completed by ISR's centralized computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) facilities. At the end of each month of data collection, ISR provides an SPSS data file of all completed interviews to all RRFSS-participating health units.

Adults aged 18 years and older are interviewed from each RRFSS-participating health unit area. The interview is 20 minutes in length. The questionnaire is composed of core modules (asked by all RRFSS-participating health units) and optional modules (asked by one or more of RRFSS-participating health units).

Each RRFSS-participating health unit has a yearly contractual agreement with the Institute for Social Research (ISR). All members of the RRFSS Working Group and ISR sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

The RRFSS representatives at the local health units would be responsible for ensuring that RRFSS meets the requirements under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Documentation on the database is available (e.g., questionnaire, questionnaire map, data dictionary) in printed and electronic formats. (See Cehip
www.cehip.org/rrfss for all questionnaires and related maps).