Comparison of Key Features

Survey

Web Link

Years Conducted

Sample size

Mode

Study Design

Primary purpose

Detailed non-cigarette tobacco product use

Flavored
Tobacco
Product
TUS-CPS

http://appliedresearch.cancer.g
ov/studies/tus-cps/

1992-1993, 19951996, 1998-1999,
2000, 2001-2002,
2003, 2006-2007, 2010-11,
2014-15 (in progress)

~ 255,000

65% by
telephone and
35% in
person

Cross-sectional
usually; can do
brief longitudinal
(CPS panel) as in:
’99-’00; ’02-’03; ’10’11

NHIS

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.
htm

Annually, since 1957

~ 27,000

In-person

Cross-sectional

BRFSS

http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/

Annually, since 1984 in 15
More than
states; in all 50 states since 350,000 adults
1993
are interviewed
each year

Telephone

Cross-sectional

NATS

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/d
ata_statistics/surveys/nats/inde
x.htm

33 CDC supported ATS's
~75,000
were conducted in 19 states
from 20032007; 2009 - Present NATS
(yearly)

NSDUH

http://www.samhsa.gov/data/N
SDUH.aspx

Periodically since
1972 and annually since
1991

NHANES

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhan
es.htm

A series of surveys since
~5,000
1959; 1999-2000, 2001-02,
2003-04, 2005-06, 2007-08,
2009-10, 2011-12

PATH

http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoPr
oducts/PublicHealthScienceRes
earch/ucm337005.htm

To begin in 2013

HINTS

http://hints.cancer.gov/

2003, 2005, 2007, yearly
from 2012-2016 (in
progress)

Nicotine
Dependence

State-level
estimates

Yes

Policy and social
norms/attitudes

Unique
Distinguishing
feature from TUSCPS

Work and home
smoke-free air
Cigarette
policy and
price
attitudes

Switching to
quit tobacco
Quit Attempts
product

NCI-sponsored survey of tobacco use administered as part of
the US Census Bureau's and Bureau of Labor
Statistics'Current Population Survey; 2014-15 survey is cosponsored by FDA to monitor tobacco behavior including
use, quit attempts, and dependence on cigarettes and other
tobacco products; also aims to estimate policy and policyrelated social norms on the state level.
NHIS data on a broad range of health topics are collected on
individuals primarily through personal household interviews.
The U.S. Census Bureau is the data collection agent.

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

BRFSS interviewers ask questions related to behaviors that
are associated with preventable chronic diseases, injuries,
and infectious diseases.

No

RDD design
Cross-sectional
telephone
survey (Final
questionnaires
were
developed by
each state)

NATS seeks to determine tobacco use prevalence and the
factors promoting and impeding tobacco use among adults in
a nationally representative sample of adults and will provide
time-critical monitoring data needed to evaluate the
effectiveness of new regulatory authorities given to FDA
under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control
Act (the Tobacco Control Act)

Yes

In-person and Cross-sectional
CASI
interviews with
sample
persons

The NSDUH provides data on prevalence and correlates of
substance use, serious mental illness, related problems, and
treatment in the civilian population aged 12 or older in the
U.S.

No

No

No

No

In-person
inteviews and
physician
examinations

Cross-sectional

NHANES findings are used to determine the prevalence of
major diseases and risk factors for diseases, assess
nutritional status and its association with health promotion
and disease prevention.

No

No

No

No

~60,000

In-person

Longitudinal

PATH findings will be used to inform FDA's regulatory
authority over tobacco products.

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

~3,500

Mailed survey; Cross-sectional
additional RDD
telephone
sample in 2005

NCI-sponsored survey that collects nationally representative
data routinely about adults’ access to and use of health
information in the broad public communication environment.
The FDA Cycle will collect data relevant to the Family
Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Data will be
used to inform FDA’s tobacco prevention campaigns and
tobacco control outreach and education.

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Approximately
70,000
individuals, age
12 and older

Linkages to
National
Death Index
(NDI) and
Cancer
SEER data

Yes, consistently Yes
since 1992: work
and home policy
and attitudes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes, can be Not now;
No
specially
occasionally a
linked to NDI few items in past

Includes health
care use patterns
and broad range of
other health topics

No

12-'14: Tried No
to quit all
tobacco >1
day in past 12
mths
No
No

Yes

No

No

Includes array of
other risk factors

Yes

Yes

No

No

Some on smoke- Yes
free air, no
attitudes on
public places

No

Yes, mainly No
small area
estimates
reported on 3
items, limited
state ID
access in
data files
Yes, can be
No
specially
linked to NDI

No

Also estimates
prevalence of
different
perceptions of
tobacco product
harms and
exposure to
warning labels

No

No

Includes array of
items on mental
disorders and other
substances

No (only
exposure with
serum cotinine)

No

Includes array of
other behaviors,
especially diet, and
diseases

Planned

No (exposure
only, no
policy/attitudes)

Yes

No

No

No

Longitudinal
design,
comprehensive,
not intended to
make national
prevalence
estimates on its
own
Access/use of
health information
in broad public
communication
context; no tobacco
use prevalence
estimates
generated