The AF4QCS was conducted as part of the evaluation of the Aligning Forces for Quality initiative (AF4Q), which aimed to improve health and healthcare quality through multistakeholder collaboration at the local community level. The consumer survey was first conducted from 2007 to 2008, using a random-digit-dialling telephone survey of consumers who were 18 years and older, had one or more of five chronic diseases (asthma, coronary heart disease, depression, diabetes and hypertension), and who had visited a health care professional for their respective condition(s) in the 2 years prior to the interview date. The sample included both a nationally representative sample of individuals with these five chronic conditions, alongside specific oversamples of eligible community residents in each of the 14 AF4Q study areas throughout the United States of America. The initial survey gathered over 8,000 responses, with further surveys conducted in 2010 and 2011 to 2012.