TUS-CPS Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get started analyzing TUS-CPS data? Do you have SAS or Excel datasets available for download?

1. Please take a look at our materials from the 2009 User Workshop or the 2013 TUS-CPS webinar.

2. Data files (.dat) are available for download. The files are meant to be used in SAS or other statistical package(s). In addition to the data files, you can download sample SAS code to read the files into SAS. Excel data files are not available.

How can you merge the three months of data collection in a single wave and for several waves?

1. Please take a look at our training materials.

   1. 2009 User Workshop Presentations

   2. 2013 TUS-CPS Webinar

 What is an appropriate citation for the TUS-CPS?

1. To cite the harmonized data, please use:

   • National Cancer Institute. (2019). Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey Harmonized Data, 1992-2015. https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/tcrb/tus-cps/

2. For each survey wave, please use:

   • US Department of Commerce, Census Bureau (Year of Data Release). National Cancer Institute and Food and Drug Administration co-sponsored Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey. Years of Survey. https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/tcrb/tus-cps/

3. For example, the citation for the 2018-2019 data would be:

   • US Department of Commerce, Census Bureau (2020). National Cancer Institute and Food and Drug Administration co-sponsored Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey. 2018-2019. https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/tcrb/tus-cps/

   To cite the Technical Documentation and Data Files, use the following in the citation: https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/tcrb/tus-cps/questionnaires-data.

How have other researchers used the TUS-CPS data?

1. The Publications Database lists nearly 300 publications and reports using the TUS-CPS. Visit https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/tcrb/tus-cps/publications-database

Why are county-level identifiers missing for some respondents?

1. Congressional law prohibits the Census Bureau from disclosing geographical information on anyone living in a geographic area of less than 100,000 population. The result is that the majority of county codes are not identified.

   Geography data is provided to the state level and some sub-state levels for specific metropolitan identifiers (see attachment 11 of the technical documentation: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/techdocs/cpsmay15.pdf. The lowest level with full information is the state level.

Does cigar usage include cigarillos?

1. Since 2010-11, the TUS explicitly states that the survey is asking about all cigar types and mentions "cigarillo” in the question. While the TUS asked about all types of cigars prior to 2010-11 (since 1992-93), we can’t say for sure if everyone who smokes cigarillos counted themselves as smoking cigars. In addition, once they do say they currently smoke cigars, we do ask about type of cigars and brand in 2010-11 and 2014-15.

Does the TUS contain a variable measuring urbanicity?

1. The metropolitan status variable is in the geographic identifiers section of the basic CPS record layout. The variable is listed as H_METSTA in the 1992-1993 wave, but GTMETSTA in all other waves.

   The variable has the following codes:
   1 = Metropolitan
   2 = Non-Metropolitan
   3 = Not identified

Are data available showing comparisons between dentists, physicians or other health professionals in prevalence of tobacco use screening, counseling, referral?

1. Data on trends for advice to quit smoking from physicians and dentists are presented separately and can be found in current and past Cancer Trends Progress Reports at https://progressreport.cancer.gov or https://progressreport.cancer.gov/prevention/clinicians_advice. This resource uses data from the TUS-CPS. The 2003 and 2010-11 questionnaires had items regarding the type of advice that was given (i.e., referral to a quit line, prescription meds, etc.).

Are there instructions for merging the TUS-CPS data with the ASEC supplements?

1. There is a document on the Census Bureau website on linking the CPS public use data files that has useful information. The link is: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/methodology/How%20To%20Link%20CPS%20Public%20Use%20Files.pdf.

   When merging the TUS-CPS and ASEC data it is a good idea to check for duplicate records before and after the merge. There shouldn’t be more than a few duplicates, if any. If there are more than a few, double check that there isn’t an error in the code used to merging the files. We exclude the few duplicate records from our merges.

Is there documentation regarding use of replicate weights?

1. Please see the TUS-CPS Technical Documentation for each individual survey wave, also on the Census FTP site—specifically, Appendix 16– Source and Accuracy Statement. Also, the webinar linked here should be helpful for describing how the replicate weights were derived (http://www.cancermeetings.org/TUSCPSWebinar/documents/tuscps_Webinar_Liu.pdf ).

Are there instructions to create new weights when linking various TUS data files’ data subsets with other TUS data file subsets and/or with subsets of other CPS Supplements?

1. When reweighting other TUS data file subsets and/or with subsets of other CPS Supplements, you may wish to refer to NCI’s Overlap Sample Report. This report summarizes weighting methodology and overlap sample characteristics. NCI refers to those who responded to both the February 2002 TUS and the February 2003 Tobacco Use Special Cessation Supplement as the overlap sample. The responses to the overlap sample can be analyzed as one-year longitudinal study with a representative sample of the U.S. and hence furnishes a unique opportunity for data analysis.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) TUS-CPS team recently compiled responses to questions submitted by registrants for the 2020 Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) TUS-CPS Informational Session (despite that Session having been cancelled). Please find all questions and responses in the 2020 Informational Session Questions and Responses document.