Public Use Files

The 2011 Colorado Health Access Survey (CHAS) and 2008-2009 Colorado Household Survey (COHS) public use files (PUFs) are available for free to researchers and data analysts for health-related research. The file is available in SAS, SPSS, Excel or comma separated format (.csv). In order to protect the confidentiality of survey respondents, the PUFs can only be used to generate state-level estimates and rural-urban estimates. Users of the PUFs must register and sign a Data Use Agreement before the file can be accessed (on-line registration, below, will be considered to serve as an electronic signature). This agreement commits the user to make appropriate use of the data while taking precautions to protect respondent confidentiality.

The public use files can be used to generate state-level estimates but not sub-state level estimates. Strict effort was made to protect the confidentiality of the COHS and CHAS respondents whose information is available through the PUFs. The following steps were taken for both the 2008-2009 survey and the 2011 CHAS to minimize the risk of respondents being identified:

County and ZIP code information was removed and a “rural vs. urban” variable included instead
Continuous variables, such as age, income, years lived in Colorado, etc., were categorized into new variables and the continuous form of the variable removed from the PUFs
Some categorical variables have been re-categorized into broader categories. For example, race has been removed and replaced with a “white vs. non-white” variable
Sensitive survey information not available in the PUFs is available in the full COHS and/or CHAS research files. The research file(s) is available to researchers through an extensive application and review process.

The COHS and CHAS survey questionnaires and data dictionaries, containing information on survey methods and weighting procedures, are also available for download below.

Public Use File Registration
Please complete this form to access the public use file(s). Fields with asterisks are required to complete the registration process.

First name *

Last name *

E-mail *

Phone number *

Organization *

Zip Code *

Web site URL

* These fields are required.

Type of Organization (select one) *

Which public use file (PUF) are you requesting? (select one) *

2008-09 Colorado Household Survey

2011 Colorado Health Access Survey

Both

Which file format would you like to receive? (select one) *

SAS

SPSS

Excel

Comma separated format (.csv)

Public Use Files

The 2011 CHAS shows that more than 60 percent of uninsured Coloradans have been without health care insurance for at least a year, up from 56 percent in 2008-2009.