Tobacco use: key data sources
Questions about smoking behaviour have been asked of General Household Survey (GHS) respondents in alternate years since 1974. In 2000, the smoking questions became part of the continuous survey and have been included every year since then.
Respondents are asked if they have ever smoked and whether they smoke cigarettes at all nowadays. Smokers are then asked how many cigarettes they smoke a day, the type and brand of cigarettes they smoke, what age they were when they started smoking regularly and if they would like to give up smoking. Two questions are also included to assess smokers' dependence on cigarette smoking. Ex-smokers are asked about their previous smoking behaviour. The responses to the smoking questions are analysed by gender, age group, marital status, country, government office region and socioeconomic group, and over time.
Health Behaviour in School-aged Children
The 2001/02 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey used three questions to obtain a broad picture of smoking behaviour. These were:
- Have you ever smoked tobacco (at least one cigarette, cigar or pipe)? (Yes/No)
- How often do you smoke tobacco at present? (I don't smoke/Every day/At least once a week, but not every day/Less than once a week)
- At what age did you first smoke a cigarette (more than a puff)? (Never/I was ___ years old)
The 2001/02 report compares responses of boys and girls across countries in terms of the percentage reporting ever having smoked, the percentage smoking at least once a week, the percentage smoking every day and the average age at onset of smoking.
Respondents are asked if they have ever smoked and whether they smoke cigarettes at all nowadays. Smokers are then asked how many cigarettes they smoke a day, the tar level of the cigarettes they smoke, what age they were when they started smoking regularly, if they have tried to give up smoking and if they would like to give up. Ex-smokers are asked about their previous smoking behaviour. Cotanine levels in saliva (a biological marker of regular smoking) are also measured for those providing a saliva sample at nurse visit. This allows cross-checking of self-reported smoking behaviour, which is known to be inaccurate sometimes. Respondents are also asked about their exposure to other people's tobacco smoke.
Results are presented by gender, age group, socio-economic classification, equivalised household income, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile and NHS board. The responses from the 1995, 1998 and 2003 surveys are compared. The responses are also compared with England, using results from the Health Survey for England.
The survey includes two questions on smoking. These are:
- Do you smoke cigarettes nowadays?
- About how many cigarettes a day do you usually smoke?
Smoking prevalence estimates are presented by gender, age group, deprivation group (SIMD), urban/rural classification, local authority and self-reported health status.
Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey
The smoking section of the survey asks respondents questions on, amongst other things, whether or not they smoke, how much they smoke, how long they've smoked, whether they would like to give up, their family's attitude to smoking, where they get their cigarettes from and who they're with when they smoke.
SMR02 information on smoking behaviour in pregnancy is collected at a woman's first antenatal booking appointment, which usually takes place within the first three months of pregnancy either at hospital or in the community.
WHO European tobacco control database
The World Health Organisation (WHO) launched its European tobacco control database in 2001. The aim of the database is to provide a standardised and reliable tobacco control surveillance system for Europe. The database covers 41 indicators relating to tobacco use and control policies in 48 WHO European Member States. It covers five main areas: smoking prevalence, legislation, economics, cessation and general policy.
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