Small Area Estimates for Tobacco Related Measures Using the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey

National Cancer Institute, Frederick MD

Investigators

Abstract

The Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) is an NCI-sponsored survey of tobacco use that has been administered as part of the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey every two to four years since 1992. The TUS-CPS is designed to produce reliable estimates at the national and state levels. However, policy makers, cancer control planners and researchers often need county level data for tobacco related measures to better evaluate tobacco control programs, monitor progress in the control of tobacco use, and conduct tobacco-related research. Model-based small area estimation (SAE) techniques must be used due to insufficient samples in those areas. Through collaboration between NCI and Census Bureau, we have produced small area estimates for several tobacco-related outcomes using data from the 2006/2007, 2010/2011, 2014/2015 and 2018/2019 TUS-CPS. The results have been (or will be) released at https://sae.cancer.gov/tuscps/. Estimates were produced using previously developed methodology for a few new outcomes including e-cigarette users, cigar users, and menthol use using the 2018/2019 cycle data. After a series of model diagnosis and validation, we detected a need to investigate alternative methodology for those new outcomes due to small proportion problem. We also need to produce small area estimates for all the selected outcomes using newer cycles of data once they are available. The next round of TUS/CPS data (the 2022/2023 cycle) is expected to be available at later 2023.