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July 28, 2005
Calls are going out throughout California to gather valuable information from residents on a variety of health topics such as access to medical care, health insurance, chronic illnesses, children's health and health-related behaviors. Conducted every two years by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) provides the most comprehensive overview of this state's diverse population on health issues. The 2005 telephone survey began on July 11, and by the time it is completed in December, tens of thousands of California residents will have taken part.
A collaborative project of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, the California Department of Health Services, and the Public Health Institute, CHIS is a vital resource for policymakers, health planners, community groups, health advocates and others working to improve the health of all Californians. For example, data from earlier rounds of the survey conducted in 2001 and 2003 have been used to expand health insurance access for children and develop policies to address obesity, asthma and other conditions.
The survey provides information on the overall state population, including data for many racial and ethnic groups. It also develops local-level information on most counties. The CHIS sample represents the geographic diversity of California, and its multi-language interviews accommodate the state's ethnically diverse population.
The California Health Interview Survey is not only noteworthy because of its size and scope, but also for the accessibility of its data. Data and findings from the 2001 and 2003 surveys are currently available from this website. Data from the 2005 should be available on the website beginning in early 2007.
Funding for CHIS 2005 has been provided by The California Endowment, the California Department of Health Services, the National Cancer Institute, First 5 California, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the California Department of Mental Health, the California Office of the Patient Advocate, the Center for Public Policy Research, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, the health departments in San Diego, Marin, and Solano Counties have commissioned locally funded oversamples of their counties.
You can help make the 2005 survey a success by encouraging the public to participate if they are called. If more people "Take the Call," then those using CHIS data to make important decisions on health policy will be better equipped to do their jobs. "Take the Call" flyers are available in five languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese), and can be posted or handed out to individual members of the public. Click one of the links located on the upper left of this page to download the free flyers.
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