Tobacco Questions for Surveys of Youth (TQS-Youth)

Tobacco Questions for Surveys of Youth (TQS-Youth)

Tobacco Questions for Surveys of Youth (TQS-Youth) has been developed to provide a standard set of survey questions on tobacco use for youth surveys in order to improve survey comparability over time and harmonize questions across global surveillance and monitoring efforts. The questions in this guide are from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) questionnaire.

Given the global acceptance and success of the Tobacco Questions for Surveys (TQS), GTSS partners developed a version to use in youth surveys. TQS is a subset of key survey questions from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) to be used in adult surveys that want to include questions on tobacco. The TQS questions can be used as a standalone survey but are most often integrated in existing surveys (e.g., multi-risk factor surveys, national health surveys).

This document Tobacco Questions for Surveys of Youth (TQS-Youth) has been prepared for youth surveys that want to include questions on tobacco. If national and sub-national surveys use the questions and response categories in this guide, this could help to improve survey comparability over time and harmonize them with international tobacco surveillance and monitoring activities.

The survey questions in this guide are from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) questionnaire. GYTS was developed to provide a global standard protocol for consistent monitoring of tobacco use among youth who attend school. It is a school-based survey providing nationally representative data for youth in grades associated with the ages 13 to 15 years. GYTS uses a standard and consistent core questionnaire, sample design, and data collection procedures that were created by experts from developed and developing countries. The survey produces estimates on tobacco use (smoking and smokeless), exposure to secondhand smoke, tobacco use cessation, access and availability to tobacco, awareness of anti-tobacco information, and exposure to tobacco marketing. GYTS is intended to assist countries to design, implement and evaluate tobacco control and prevention programs targeting youth. A detailed overview of GYTS can be found in Appendix A. The questions in this guide are mapped to the GYTS Core Questionnaire in Appendix B.

In order to maintain consistency and comparability in monitoring tobacco use among youth globally and keep-up with the ever changing tobacco control landscape, it is critical that a standard set of survey questions on tobacco use be implemented across various surveys. To address possible gaps in youth tobacco surveillance, GTSS partners have created this Tobacco Questions for Surveys of Youth (TQS-Youth) booklet that includes a subset of key survey questions from the GYTS. Surveys can select indicators and corresponding questions from this list to include based on their particular focus or priority, or incorporate the complete set if appropriate.