Key Concepts About Uses of the Data

NHANES data have been central to the formulation of public health policy and practice because they:

• Are a unique national source of actual measurement data;
• Are able to integrate findings from interview and examination components;
• Demonstrate high quality and standardized data collection, processing, and analysis; and
• Are responsive and relevant to public health data needs.

The following slide highlights a few examples of how NHANES data have been used for public health policy development and practice changes:

Information from NHANES are made available through an extensive series of publications and articles in scientific and technical journals. For data users and researchers throughout the world, survey data are now publicly distributed on the World Wide Web.

Primary data users are the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies that collaborate in the design and development of the survey. The partnership also extends to other federal agencies, such as the US Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.  Research organizations, universities, health care providers, educators and the general public also have benefited from the survey information in various ways.