1.2 Overview of major Australian data sets

 

Last updated: July 2020
Suggested citation: Greenhalgh, EM, Bayly, M & Scollo MM. 1.2 Overview of major data sets. In Greenhalgh, EM, Scollo, MM and Winstanley, MH [editors] Tobacco in Australia: Facts and issues. Melbourne: Cancer Council Victoria; 2020.  Available from http://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-1-prevalence/1-2-overview-of-major-australian-data-sets

 

Several series of surveys investigating adult smoking behaviour in Australia have been undertaken in recent decades, providing a wealth of information. The most comprehensive are:

  • the National Health Surveys, conducted approximately five-yearly (and more recently three-yearly) by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, with the first including routine questionsi on smoking behaviour undertaken in 1989–19901-8
  • surveys undertaken by research groups under the auspices of Cancer Council Victoria (formerly the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria) at three-yearly intervals, from 1974 to 1998.9-18
  • the National Tobacco Survey, which collected information annually on tobacco use and behaviours among Australian teenagers and adults on behalf of the Department of Health and Ageing. It was first commissioned in 1997 as a tool to evaluate the National Tobacco Campaign19 but was also used for several years to monitor the impact of other tobacco policy initiatives. This survey was discontinued.
  • the National Drug Strategy Household Surveys, results of which are published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, commencing in 1985 and conducted every two to three years20-30 Since 2001, the National Drug Strategy Household Survey has assessed smoking status using a consistent methodology considered similar to that of Cancer Council Victoria surveys.31 Additional analysisii of both of these data sources has produced the most consistently collected and detailed trends data available for Australia, spanning the years from 1980 to 2019.

Discussion in this chapter will draw on these and other sources. In most cases the latest estimates of smoking prevalence and analysis of historical trends are drawn from National Drug Strategy Household Survey data (as described in Footnote ii).

Changes in the volume of tobacco consumed are discussed in Chapter 2.

i A survey undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 1977 also provides data on smoking behaviour from this period. (Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4380.0 Alcohol and tobacco consumption patterns, February 1977. Canberra: ABS, 1977.)

ii Prevalence data from 1980 to 1998 presented in section 1.3 originate from previously unpublished analyses undertaken by the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, within Cancer Council Victoria, excluding individuals aged under 18 years and weighting the data sets to 2001 census data based on five standard categories of age and sex. Information presented here therefore differs slightly from that published in prior journal articles describing Australian adult prevalence of smoking in these years. Survey data for 1995–2013 presented in most sections are taken from the National Drug Strategy Household Surveys, undertaken by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and analysed by the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer. This data is weighted to the Australian population appropriate for each survey year. Because there are some inconsistencies between the two surveys in data collection methods, sample size, and weighting procedures, only data from 2001 onward is included in longitudinal analysis.

Notes on methodology

Cancer Council Victoria data were collected as part of an omnibus survey conducted by the same national market research company in each survey year. A random sample of households across Australia was selected for surveying and interviewers conducted face to face surveys with respondents aged 14+ years in their home. The original analyses of data from these surveys were based on data from respondents aged 16 and over. The National Drug Strategy Household Survey is also a survey of a random sample of men and women aged 14+ years across Australia and is conducted by a market research company. The 2010 and 2013 surveys consisted solely of a self-completion drop-and-collect method. In 2004 and 2007, computer-assisted telephone interviews were used in addition to the drop-and-collect survey, and prior to 2001, face-to-face interviews were also used. Data from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey have also been re-analysed using the following source files:

  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 1995 (computer file). Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1995.
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 1998 (computer file). Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 1998.
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2001 (computer file). Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 2001.
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2004, (computer file). Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archives, The Australian National University, 2005.
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2007: First Results. (Computer File). Canberra: Australian Social Science Data Archive, The Australian National University, 2008.
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2010 (computer file). Canberra: Australian Data Archive, The Australian National University, 2011.
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2013 (computer file) Australian Data Archive, The Australian National University: Canberra, 2015
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2016 (computer file) Australian Data Archive, The Australian National University: Canberra, 2017

The two surveys use different questions to define 'current' smoking. In Cancer Council Victoria surveys, the question for assessing smoking status (which remained unchanged for the duration of the survey period) asked respondents to classify themselves as a current smoker of cigarettes or cigars or pipes, an ex-smoker of any tobacco product, or a never smoker. In the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, smoking status is ascertained since 2001 by asking respondents if they have ever tried a cigarette or smoked a full cigarette, and then inquiring of respondents who say ‘yes’, whether they have smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. Respondents indicating that they have smoked more than 100 cigarettes are asked: ‘How often do you now smoke cigarettes, pipes, or other tobacco products?’ and are asked to select one of the following responses: ‘daily’, ‘at least weekly’, ‘less often than weekly’, ‘not at all but I have smoked in the past 12 months’, or ‘not at all and I have not smoked in the past 12 months’. Respondents indicating that they smoke ‘daily’ or ‘at least weekly’ are classified as current smokers. A calibration study24 of the two different approaches has found that they produced the same estimates of smoking prevalence.

Relevant news and research

For recent news items and research on this topic, click here.(Last updated July 2021)
 

 

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4364.0 National Health Survey 1989-90: summary of results. Canberra: ABS, 1992. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/second+level+view?ReadForm&prodno=4364.0&viewtitle=National%20Health%20Survey:%20Summary%20of%20Results~1995~Previous~28/08/1997&&tabname=Past%20Future%20Issues&prodno=4364.0&issue=1995&num=&view=&.

2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey.  Summary of Results, Australia 1995.  Cat.  No. 4364.0. Canberra: AGPS, 1997. Available from: http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/C32B970BCC3E56E0CA257225000495DE/$File/43640_1995.pdf.

3. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4364.0 National Health Survey 2001: summary of results. Canberra: ABS, 2002. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4364.02001?OpenDocument.

4. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4364.0 National Health Survey 2004-05: Summary of results. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4364.02004-05?OpenDocument.

5. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4364.0 National Health Survey: summary of results (re-issue), 2007–08. Canberra: ABS, 2009. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4364.0Main%20Features12007-2008%20(Reissue)?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=4364.0&issue=2007-2008%20(Reissue)&num=&view=.

6. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4364.0.55.003 - Australian Health Survey: Updated Results, 2011-2012. 2013. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/E3E02505DCAF230CCA257B82001794EB?opendocument

7. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4364.0.55.001 - National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15 2015. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4364.0.55.001Main+Features12014-15?OpenDocument

8. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4364.0.55.001 - National Health Survey: First Results, 2017-18 in ABS2018. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/4364.0.55.001~2017-18~Main%20Features~Smoking~85.

9. Gray N and Hill D. Patterns of tobacco smoking in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 1975; 2(22):819–22. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1207580

10. Gray N and Hill D. Patterns of tobacco smoking in Australia II. Medical Journal of Australia, 1977; 2(10):327–8. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/927253

11. Hill D and Gray N. Patterns of tobacco smoking in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 1982; 1(1):23–5. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7062879

12. Hill D and Gray N. Australian patterns of smoking and related health beliefs in 1983. Community Health Studies, 1984; 8(3):307–16. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6518750

13. Hill D. Australian patterns of tobacco smoking in 1986. Medical Journal of Australia, 1988; 149(1):6–10. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3386578

14. Hill DJ, White VM, and Gray NJ. Measures of tobacco smoking in Australia 1974-1986 by means of a standard method. Medical Journal of Australia, 1988; 149(1):10–2. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3386561

15. Hill D, White V, and Gray N. Australian patterns of tobacco smoking in 1989. Medical Journal of Australia, 1991; 154(12):797–801. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2041504

16. Hill D and White V. Australian adult smoking prevalence in 1992. Australian Journal of Public Health, 1995; 19(3):305–8. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7626682

17. Hill D, White V, and Scollo M. Smoking behaviours of Australian adults in 1995:  trends and concerns. Medical Journal of Australia, 1998; 168:209-13. Available from: https://www.mja.com.au/journal/1998/168/5/smoking-behaviours-australian-adults-1995-trends-and-concerns

18. White V, Hill D, Siahpush M, and Bobevski I. How has the prevalence of cigarette smoking changed among Australian adults? Trends in smoking prevalence between 1980 and 2001. Tobacco Control, 2003; 12(suppl. 2):ii67-ii74. Available from: http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/12/suppl_2/ii67

19. The Social Research Centre. National Tobacco Survey:  smoking prevalence and consumption, 1997-2005. Prepared for Research and Marketing Group, Information and Communication Division, Department of Health and Ageing, Darlinghurst NSW. Melbourne: The Social Research Centre, 2006.

20. Makkai T and McAllister, Patterns of drug use in Australia. An analysis of national trend data 1985-1991. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services; 1993.

21. Commonwealth Department of Health Housing and Local Government and Community Services. 1993 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Conducted on behalf of the National Drug Strategy. Canberra: AGPS, 1993.

22. Commonwealth of Australia. National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Canberra: AGPS, 1996.

23. Adhikari P and Summerill A. 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: Detailed findings. Drug Statistics Series No. 6, Cat. No. PHE 27 Canberra: AIHW, 2000. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol-other-drug-treatment-services/1998-ndshs-detailed-findings/contents/table-of-contents.

24. Australian Institute for Health and Welfare. 2001 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: Detailed findings.  . Drug Statistics Series No. 11, Cat. No. PHE 41 Canberra: AIHW, 2002. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol-other-drug-treatment-services/2001-ndshs-detailed-findings/contents/table-of-contents.

25. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: Detailed Findings Drug Statistics Series No. 16, Cat. No. PHE 66 Canberra: AIHW, 2005. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol-other-drug-treatment-services/2004-ndshs-detailed-findings/contents/table-of-contents.

26. Australian Institute for Health and Welfare. 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey:  Detailed findings. Drug statistics series No. 22, Cat. No. PHE 107 Canberra: AIHW, 2008. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/2007-nhsds-detailed-findings/contents/table-of-contents.

27. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: survey report. Drug statistics series no. 25, AIHW cat. no. PHE 145.Canberra: AIHW, 2011. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/ndshs-2010/contents/table-of-contents.

28. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey detailed report: 2013. Cat. no. PHE 183 Canberra: AIHW, 2014. Available from: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=60129549469&tab=3.

29. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) 2016 key findings data tables. Canberra: AIHW, 2017. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/2016-ndshs-detailed/data.

30. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Data tables: National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2019 - 2. Tobacco smoking chapter, Supplementary data tables. Canberra: AIHW, 2020. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/national-drug-strategy-household-survey-2019/data.

31. Mullins R and Borland R. Changing the way smoking is measured among Australian adults: a preliminary investigation of Victorian data.  Chapter 12, in Quit Evaluation Studies No. 9, 1996-1997.  Trotter L and Mullins R, Editors. Melbourne: Victorian Smoking and Health Program; 1998.  Available from: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.582.9632&rep=rep1&type=pdf.