National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): What You Need to Know When Using NHANES Data for a Study

Abstract

Research funding is very competitive. A way to strengthen a research grant application is including preliminary data. Preliminary data demonstrates the proposed research is promising, and the ability to carry the research is credible. Secondary analyses of current data could provide pilot data. Furthermore, funding opportunities exist that support projects such as secondary data analysis of existing data. A secondary dataset widely used is the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). NHANES is a nationally representative survey that assesses children and adults' health and nutritional status in the United States. Although NHANES is publicly available and used across many disciplines, there are many barriers to analyzing this impactful dataset, such as retrieving the data to answer a research question. Therefore, a novice, user-friendly NHANES manual that offers a concise roadmap for graduate students, academic faculty, and industry professionals interested but unfamiliar with using NHANES has been developed, awaiting piloting.