Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS)

Detailed information for 2022

The main objective of the Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey is to gather information about the prevalence of cigarette smoking, vaping, and cannabis use.

Data release - To be determined

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

Description

Health Canada and other organizations will use the data to monitor changes in vaping, cannabis use and tobacco use.

This information is vital to the effective development and implementation of national and provincial strategies, policies and programs aimed at reducing the harms associated with the use of these substances.

Until 2017, Statistics Canada conducted the Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CTADS), which collected data on tobacco as well as alcohol and drug use in Canada. In 2019, the Canadian Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CADS) was conducted to collect data on alcohol and drug use independently from the Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS), which was conducted primarily to collect data on tobacco and nicotine use.

Subjects

• Health
• Lifestyle and social conditions

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The target population for the survey is non-institutionalized persons aged 15 years or older living in Canada's ten provinces, who are not members of collectives or living on reserves.

Instrument design

The content for the CTNS electronic questionnaire was drafted in consultation with Health Canada.

The questionnaire underwent cognitive testing through in-depth interviews in both of Canada's official languages, conducted by Statistics Canada's Questionnaire Design Resource Centre. The goal of the qualitative study was to test the survey content.

Sampling

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

Sampling unit
Individuals aged 15 to 24: The CTNS sample has a one-stage design, and the individual is the sampling unit.

Individuals aged 25 and older: The CTNS sample has a two-stage design: the sampling unit for the first stage is the dwelling, and the sampling unit for the second stage is the individual.

Stratification method
Individuals aged 15 to 24: The frame was stratified by age group (15 to 19, 20 to 24) and province, and a systematic sample was selected independently within each age group and province.

Individuals aged 25 and older: The frame was stratified by province and a simple random sample of dwellings was selected independently within each province.

Sampling and subsampling
Individuals aged 15 to 24: The sample was allocated to the provinces so that the survey could produce province-level estimates for this age group. The sample was also allocated so that the survey could produce region-level estimates for age groups 15 to 19 and 20 to 24. An initial sample of 12,000 individuals aged 15 to 24 was selected.

Individuals aged 25 and older: The sample was allocated to the provinces so that the survey could produce province-level estimates for this age group. An initial sample of 15,000 dwellings was selected to cover individuals aged 25 and older.

An initial sample of 27,000 dwellings or individuals was sent to collection.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2022-11-30 to 2023-01-31

Responding to this survey is voluntary.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents either through an electronic questionnaire (EQ) or through CATI (computer- assisted telephone interviewing).

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .

Error detection

The metadata will be provided upon release.

Imputation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Estimation

The metadata will be provided upon release.

Quality evaluation

While quality assurance mechanisms are applied at all stages of the statistical process, validation and detailed data review by statisticians are the final quality verifications prior to release. Many validation measures are implemented, including

a. verification of estimates through cross-tabulation
b. consultation with stakeholders internal to Statistics Canada
c. consultation with external stakeholders.

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.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Data accuracy

Metadata will be provided upon release.