Comparing of survey-based and small area model estimates of secondhand tobacco smoke prevalence of exposure
1
Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
2
Health Information Service, Directorate-General of Public Health, Galician Regional Health Authority, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3703
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
National Health Surveys provide population-level prevalence estimates for multiple risk factors. However, obtaining precise estimates for specific geographic areas by key variables, such as sex and age, is often limited by sample size. In this context, the application of small area estimation (SAE) models, combining health survey data with auxiliary area-level information, allows for geographically disaggregated estimates. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of applying SAE models on prevalence estimates of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) by sex and age group in the 17 Autonomous Communities and 2 Autonomous Cities of Spain for the years 2017, 2020, and 2023.
METHODS:
SHS exposure prevalence was estimated using two approaches. In the first approach, microdata from the National Health Survey was used. In the second approach, a SAE model that integrates survey data with auxiliary information was applied. For comparison, absolute differences between estimates obtained with the two approaches were calculated.
RESULTS:
Across all three years, overall, sex-specific, and age-group-specific SHS exposure prevalence estimates derived from the SAE model were consistently higher than those obtained directly from the survey data. Differences ranged between −2 and 0 percentage points. No consistent patterns were observed in the distribution of differences by sex or age group across the study years.
National Health Surveys provide population-level prevalence estimates for multiple risk factors. However, obtaining precise estimates for specific geographic areas by key variables, such as sex and age, is often limited by sample size. In this context, the application of small area estimation (SAE) models, combining health survey data with auxiliary area-level information, allows for geographically disaggregated estimates. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of applying SAE models on prevalence estimates of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) by sex and age group in the 17 Autonomous Communities and 2 Autonomous Cities of Spain for the years 2017, 2020, and 2023.
METHODS:
SHS exposure prevalence was estimated using two approaches. In the first approach, microdata from the National Health Survey was used. In the second approach, a SAE model that integrates survey data with auxiliary information was applied. For comparison, absolute differences between estimates obtained with the two approaches were calculated.
RESULTS:
Across all three years, overall, sex-specific, and age-group-specific SHS exposure prevalence estimates derived from the SAE model were consistently higher than those obtained directly from the survey data. Differences ranged between −2 and 0 percentage points. No consistent patterns were observed in the distribution of differences by sex or age group across the study years.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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