Survey of Smoking Habits

Detailed information for 1986

The data collected are used to examine trends in the smoking behaviour of the Canadian population 15 years of age and over. The primary focus of the analysis of the data is on three specific groups: non-smokers, regular cigarette smokers and occasional cigarette smokers.

Data release - June 30, 1987

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

The Smoking Habits of Canadians Supplementary Survey to the Labour Force Survey (L.F.S.) is being sponsored by the Health Promotion Directorate, Health Services and Promotion Branch, Health and Welfare Canada. This Directorate has developed an extensive time series database associated with Smoking Habits. Smoking Habits Surveys have been conducted as supplements to the L.F.S. once a year from 1965 to 1974 inclusive and every second year from 1975 through 1983. The final survey was conducted in 1986. The results of these surveys have been the creation of a database that enables the directorate to monitor and examine trends in the smoking behaviour of the Canadian population.

The data collected are used to examine trends in the smoking behaviour of the Canadian population 15 years of age and over. The primary focus of the analysis of the data is on three specific groups: non-smokers, regular cigarette smokers and occasional cigarette smokers. The survey is conducted on behalf of Health and Welfare Canada

Subjects

• Health
• Lifestyle and social conditions

Data sources and methodology

Target population

All persons 15 years of age and over residing in Canada with the exception of inmates of institutions, full-time members of the armed forces, and residents of the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and Indian Reserves. (These exceptions represent less than 3% of the population.)

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.

The survey is based on the multistage stratified, clustered, probability, area sample of the Labour Force Survey.

Error detection

Sampling errors: The estimates are based on a national sample of slightly less than 1% of the population. The resulting sampling errors, which can be measured, vary according to a number of factors the most important of which is the size of the estimate. Sampling variance indicators are published in the "Labour Force Monthly" (71-001). Non-sampling errors: Errors unrelated to sampling can occur at every stage of a survey. These non-sampling errors range from the respondent misunderstanding the question to errors introduced during processing. Mechanisms to minimize these errors are in place although the final estimates are still affected to some degree.

Estimation

The Labour Force Survey (LFS) (SDDS ID 3701) records are weighted using what can be thought of as a three-stage process. The first stage involves the assignment to each record of the inverse of the design sampling ratio applicable to the geographic area where the respondent represented by that record resides. The second stage involves adjustments to the weight assigned in the first stage. These include an adjustment for the rural/urban distribution of the population and an adjustment for non-response (both performed for relatively small sub-provincial areas). It also includes an adjustment for unanticipated population growth in particular small areas selected for the sample (clusters) and an adjustment for the fact that the sample size remains constant (47,500 households) resulting in a slowly declining sampling ratio as the population grows. The third stage involves the comparison of the sum of the weights assigned to the records in the first two stages to population totals derived from sources independent of the LFS. These comparisons are done for 38 age-sex groups for each province. The weights for all records belonging to an age-sex-province group are then adjusted so that their sum is equal to the corresponding independently derived population total. The independently derived population totals are obtained as projections from the annual post-censal estimates of population produced by Demography Division with adjustments to reflect the exclusions described in 'Design and Procedures'.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

In order to prevent any data disclosure, confidentiality analysis is done using the Statistics Canada Generalized Disclosure Control System (G-Confid). G-Confid is used for primary suppression (direct disclosure) as well as for secondary suppression (residual disclosure). Direct disclosure occurs when the value in a tabulation cell is composed of or dominated by few enterprises while residual disclosure occurs when confidential information can be derived indirectly by piecing together information from different sources or data series.