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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Increase use of smoking cessation counseling and medication in adults who smoke — TU‑13 Data Methodology and Measurement

On this page:  About the National Data  |  Methodology  |  History

About the National Data

Data

Data Source:  National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), CDC/NCHS

Baseline: 38.4 percent of current adult smokers aged 18 years and over who tried to quit during the past year and former adult smokers who quit during the past 2 years reported using cessation counseling and/or medication during the past year as part of a quit attempt in 2022

Target: 43.8 percent

Numerator
Number of current adult smokers aged 18 years and over who used cessation counseling and/or medication during the past year and former adult smokers who quit in past 2 years who used cessation counseling and/or medication when they stopped smoking.
Denominator
Number of current adult smokers aged 18 years and over who tried to quit in the past year AND former adult smokers who quit in the past 2 years.
Target-setting method
Projection
Target-setting method details
Linear trend fitted using ordinary least squares and a projection at the 33 percent prediction interval.
1
Target-setting method justification
Trend data were evaluated for this objective. Using historical data points, a trend line was fitted using ordinary least squares, and the trend was projected into the next decade. This method was used because three or more comparable data points were available, the projected value was within the range of possible values, and a projection at the 33 percent prediction interval was selected because data suggested that the prevalence of adult smokers' use of cessation counseling and medication when trying to quit is gradually increasing.

Methodology

Questions used to obtain the national baseline data

(For additional information, please visit the data source page linked above.)

From the 2022 National Health Interview Survey:

Numerator and Denominator:
Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your entire life?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't Know
[If yes:] Do you now smoke cigarettes everyday, some days, or not at all?
  1. Everyday
  2. Some days
  3. Not at all
  4. Refused
  5. Don't Know
[If not at all:] How long has it been since you quit smoking cigarettes?
  1. _______ days
  2. _______ weeks
  3. _______ months
  4. _______ years
  5. Refused
  6. Don't Know

From the 2022 National Health Interview Survey Cancer Control Module:

Numerator:
Thinking back to when you tried to QUIT smoking in the PAST 12 MONTHS/Thinking back to when you stopped smoking completely, did you use ANY of the following PRODUCTS:

A nicotine patch?

  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't Know
A nicotine gum or lozenge?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't Know
A nicotine containing nasal spray or inhaler?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't Know
A prescription pill called Chantix or Varenicline?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't Know
A prescription pill called Zyban, Bupropion, or Wellbutrin?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't Know
Thinking back to when you tried to QUIT smoking in the PAST 12 MONTHS/Thinking back to when you stopped smoking completely, did you use ANY of the following:

A telephone help line or quit line?

  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't Know
One-on-one counseling?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't Know
A stop smoking clinic, class or support group?
  1. Yes
  2. No
  3. Refused
  4. Don't Know

Methodology notes

Current cigarette smokers: ever smoked at least 100 cigarettes and still smoke everyday or some days.

Former cigarette smokers who quit in the past 2 years: ever smoked 100 cigarettes; currently smoke not at all, and last smoked less than or equal to 2 years ago.

Cessation counseling includes: telephone or quit line, one on one counseling, and/or stop smoking clinics, classes or support groups.

Medication includes: nicotine patch, gum , lozenge, nasal spray, inhaler, or prescription pills including Chantix, Varenicline, Zyban, Buproprion, or Wellbutrin.

Thus, the overall estimate encompasses adults who used used one-on-one counseling, a stop smoking clinic, class, or support group, and/or a telephone help line or quit line; and/or the nicotine patch, nicotine gum or lozenge, nicotine-containing nasal spray or inhaler, varenicline (U.S. trade name Chantix) and/or bupropion (including trade names Zyban and Wellbutrin) in the past year among current smokers who tried to quit in the past year or used when stopped smoking among former smokers who quit in the past 2 years.

This indicator uses age-adjustment groups: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+.

Age-adjustment notes

This Indicator uses Age-Adjustment Groups:

  • Total: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Sex: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Race/Ethnicity: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Educational Attainment: 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Family Income (percent poverty threshold): 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Family Type: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Country of Birth: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Disability Status: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Geographic Location: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Health Insurance Status: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64
  • Marital Status: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+
  • Sexual Orientation: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-64, 65+

History

Comparable HP2020 objective
Related, which includes objectives that have the same or a similar intent to either a measurable or developmental/archived objective in Healthy People 2020.
Revision History
  • Revised. 

    In 2024, the baseline was revised from 32.1% in 2015 to 38.4% in 2022 due to the 2019 NHIS redesign. The target remained 43.8% using the original target setting method of projection.
  • Revised. 

    In 2024, the following categories were recalculated with the use of a newer variable: Never married, American Indian or Alaska Native only, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only, 2 or more races only, Not Hispanic or Latino American Indian or Alaska Native only, Not Hispanic or Latino Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander only, Not Hispanic or Latino 2 or more races only. Estimates from data year 2022 or earlier may vary slightly from estimates previously reported. The baseline, baseline year and target were not affected.

1. Because Healthy People 2030 objectives have a desired direction (e.g., increase or decrease), the confidence level of a one-sided prediction interval can be used as an indication of how likely a target will be to achieve based on the historical data and fitted trend.