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. 2017 Jul;26(4):371-378.
doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-052934. Epub 2016 Aug 8.

Design and methods of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study

Andrew Hyland  1 , Bridget K Ambrose  2 , Kevin P Conway  3 , Nicolette Borek  2 , Elizabeth Lambert  3 , Charles Carusi  4 , Kristie Taylor  4 , Scott Crosse  4 , Geoffrey T Fong  5   5 , K Michael Cummings  6 , David Abrams  7 , John P Pierce  8 , James Sargent  9 , Karen Messer  8 , Maansi Bansal-Travers  1 , Ray Niaura  7 , Donna Vallone  7 , David Hammond  10 , Nahla Hilmi  3 , Jonathan Kwan  2 , Andrea Piesse  4 , Graham Kalton  4 , Sharon Lohr  4 , Nick Pharris-Ciurej  2 , Victoria Castleman  4 , Victoria R Green  3   11 , Greta Tessman  2 , Annette Kaufman  12 , Charles Lawrence  4 , Dana M van Bemmel  2 , Heather L Kimmel  3 , Ben Blount  13 , Ling Yang  2 , Barbara O'Brien  4 , Cindy Tworek  2 , Derek Alberding  2 , Lynn C Hull  2 , Yu-Ching Cheng  2 , David Maklan  4 , Cathy L Backinger  2 , Wilson M Compton  3
Affiliations

Design and methods of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study

Andrew Hyland et al. Tob Control. 2017 Jul.

Abstract

Background: This paper describes the methods and conceptual framework for Wave 1 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study data collection. The National Institutes of Health, through the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is partnering with the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products to conduct the PATH Study under a contract with Westat.

Methods: The PATH Study is a nationally representative, longitudinal cohort study of 45 971 adults and youth in the USA, aged 12 years and older. Wave 1 was conducted from 12 September 2013 to 15 December 2014 using Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interviewing to collect information on tobacco-use patterns, risk perceptions and attitudes towards current and newly emerging tobacco products, tobacco initiation, cessation, relapse behaviours and health outcomes. The PATH Study's design allows for the longitudinal assessment of patterns of use of a spectrum of tobacco products, including initiation, cessation, relapse and transitions between products, as well as factors associated with use patterns. Additionally, the PATH Study collects biospecimens from consenting adults aged 18 years and older and measures biomarkers of exposure and potential harm related to tobacco use.

Conclusions: The cumulative, population-based data generated over time by the PATH Study will contribute to the evidence base to inform FDA's regulatory mission under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act and efforts to reduce the Nation's burden of tobacco-related death and disease.

Keywords: Prevention; Public policy; Surveillance and monitoring.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests KMC has received grant funding from Pfizer, to study the impact of a hospital-based tobacco cessation intervention. He also receives funding as an expert witness in litigation filed against the tobacco industry. WC reports long-term stock holdings in General Electric Company, 3M Companies and Pfizer, all unrelated to this manuscript. GTF has received funding as an expert witness and consultant to governments whose policies are being challenged by the tobacco industry. DH receives funding as an expert witness in litigation filed against the tobacco industry.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Host, agent, vector and environment model applied to tobacco with examples of constructs within each domain.
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