Tobacco.org

• Origin and use of the 100 cigarette criterion in tobacco surveys  

Truly global standards and definitions will likely never exist for tobacco control surveillance. One difference across definitions of smoking status is whether or not a lifetime consumption of 100 cigarettes is a necessary criterion for ever and current smoking. Frequently asked questions about this measure demonstrate a need for information on its development and appropriateness in different settings. In this commentary, we attempted to assemble information on the origin and adoption of this measure, and provide some critical commentary on its usefulness. . . .

This article contributes to the literature by pulling together archival information, experience of researchers, and limited secondary data analysis to answer questions frequently asked regarding a commonly used self-report question in tobacco use surveillance and research on smoking history - whether or not one has smoked 100 cigarettes in a lifetime. Provenance of simple questions used in multi-purpose health surveys is often not known and difficult to track down. This summary and commentary was developed in response to repeated appearance of these questions (about the 100 cigarettes measure and criterion) on list serve in the fields of epidemiology, public health and tobacco control research, as well as questions brought directly to us in the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit.

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