Behind the Data: UIC Tours NHANES Mobile Centers
NHANES
The School of Public Health and the College of Applied Health Sciences faculty and staff had the opportunity to tour a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) mobile examination center temporarily located in the Illinois Medical District. During the tour, visitors were given the opportunity to learn about NHANES and how the surveys are conducted.
NHANES is conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Center for Health Statistics, led by Dr. Alan Simon. The survey was first conducted in the early 1960s after the passing of the National Health Survey Act. In the late 1990s, the survey became more continuous and reached more locations than ever before. The survey consists of three main sections: health interviews, health examinations, and lab tests. All three sections can be performed in the portable NHANES examination trucks or at the volunteers’ homes.
Each year, the five current NHANES examination vehicles travel to four U.S. locations for eight-week screenings of the local population, typically collecting 200 screenings per stop. The locations and individuals chosen for the NHANES examination are selected based on statistical models and the U.S. Census primary sample units to ensure representative data. Participants are called via telephone and can receive support for transportation and childcare should they choose to be screened.
With a six person team–a nurse, a bio-medical equipment specialist, a dental hygienist, a bone densitometry technologist, a medical lab technician, and a medical lab scientist–in each truck, participants can have a multitude of tests done in one stop. With hundreds of tests run within a few hours, screenings include evaluation of common conditions such as allergies, diabetes, anemia, obesity, hearing or vision loss, and osteoporosis. A dietician also visits participants’ homes to learn more about their behavioral health, medications, and at-home air and water quality. Participants receive a copy of all their test results to help inform their personal health and wellness decisions.
The data collected through NHANES is publicly available on the CDC website, with updates posted every two years. The data includes analysis reports and some interactive data visualizations, such as tables and graphs.
NHANES data being publicly available plays an important role in public health practice and research. Public health scientists use the survey data to monitor health and nutrition trends, identify undiagnosed conditions and environmental exposures, understand disease risk factors, and design effective health programs and services. Ultimately, NHANES helps to drive public policy that helps improve healthcare and overall well-being of citizens.