In May, 1995, the National College Health Risk Behavior Survey-developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-was mailed to 1,000 randomly selected Western Washington University students. The final tally of completed forms was 482, a 48.2% survey response rate. The National College Health Risk Behavior Survey was established by the CDC to monitor the prevalence of behaviors most influencing the health of college students. In addition to Western students, the survey was administered to over 10,000 representative college students nationwide. (Baseline data from that administration was not available at the time of the publication of this report). The National College Health Risk Behavior Survey gathers data in six behavioral categories contributing to the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among college students: 1) behaviors that result in unintentional or intentional injuries; 2) use of tobacco; 3) use of alcohol and other drugs 4) sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection; 5)body weight/nutrition; and 6) physical activity. The primary purpose of administering the Health Risk Behavior Survey at Western was to produce baseline data on the status of college student health, especially as it relates to the 29 national health objectives described in Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services #91-50212, 1991.) To date no such comprehensive assessment of the overall health of Western students exists. While student utilization rates of health services have been rigorously recorded, and though utilization rates are important for assuring adequate delivery of such services, they do not accurately reflect the health profile of the student body as a whole. Data from the Health Risk Behavior Survey completes the picture of student health at Western and is invaluable to strategic planning processes targeting the most compelling student needs
