Measuring injury risk factors: question reliability in a statewide sample.

BACKGROUND Recently (1996-98), Colorado added 15 questions pertaining to injury related risks and behaviors to the behavioral risk factor surveillance system (BRFSS). Questions addressed bicycle helmet use, traffic crashes, exposure to violence, suicidal behavior, and gun storage. OBJECTIVE To measure the test-retest reliability of these injury related questions. METHODS Of 330 BRFSS participants, 229 (69%) were called a second time and reasked nine selected injury questions. Retests were completed 7-28 days after the original interview. RESULTS Test-retest agreement was very high (kappa >0.80) for bicycle helmet use, domestic police visits, and gun ownership. All other injury risk questions had substantial agreement (kappa >0.60). CONCLUSIONS The injury related questions added to the Colorado BRFSS have high test-retest reliability.