Active Duty Air Force Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Pilot Project, 1995

摘要

Active Duty' Air Force (ADAF) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Pilot Project,1995, provides results of a survey on the prevalence of behavioral risk factors among ADAF members. This study, conducted during July and August 1995, is the first USAF-wide survey to provide such data at the major command level. Results showed that the Air Force is currently meeting these national Healthy People 2000 goals: overweight by body mass index, safety belt usage, child safety seat usage, ever having had a mammogram and breast exam, ever having had a Pap smear, and having had a Pap smear in the past three years. One major finding was the lower than expected prevalence of current smoking (reported by 22.4% of ADAF members). A second major finding concerned alcohol abuse behaviors. The prevalence of self-reported binge drinking was 26%. Chronic drinking (4.1% vs. 3.0% nationally) and drinking and driving (2.6% vs. 2.4% nationally) were not markedly different from US findings. Data also indicated that the Air Force has not met Healthy People 2000 goals for periodic cholesterol testing, suggesting another opportunity for improvement. The recommendation is to institute an annual behavioral risk factor survey for the Air Force.