QUITNO is a 3-digit-numeric variable.

000: Not in universe
070: Top code for 70 units or more if the unit is years (QUITTP) (2020-forward)
095: Top code for 95 units or more (1997-2018)
096: Top code for 96 units or more (1992, 1994, 1995)
997: Unknown-refused
998: Unknown-not ascertained
999: Unknown-don't know

Description

For sample adults who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes (SMOKEV) and do not currently smoke (SMOKFREQNOW), QUITNO reports a numerical response associated with a type of time period (QUITTP) that reports the length of time since the person quit smoking cigarettes. Users should combine these two variables to determine the length of time since the person quit smoking cigarettes. Please see the universe tab for detailed information about who was asked this question.

Beginning in 2020, QUITNO was collected as part of the NHIS rotating core content on smoking history and cessation. For more information on the smoking history and cessation rotating core or other smoking history and cessation variables, please see SMOKAGEREG.

Comparability

A major survey redesign introduced in 2019 affects comparability of data from 2019-forward with data from before 2019. There are also minor changes in the universe statement between years, as outlined in the Universe tab, which impact the comparability of this variable over time. Users are advised to consider the impact that changes in the universe may have on their analyses when using data from multiple years.

The NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.

There are two specific changes to QUITNO introduced in the 2019 redesign. First, QUITNO is no longer asked annually; instead it has been incorporated into a rotating core set of questions on cigarette smoking history and cessation that will be collected once every other year. Second, prior to the 2019 redesign, the number of time units reported in QUITNO is top-coded at 95 or more. After the 2019 redesign, the number of time units in QUITNO is top-coded at 70 when the time period is years and 365 time units otherwise.

Universe

Availability

• 1992, 1994-1995, 1997-2018, 2020, 2022

Weights

• 1992, 1997-2018, 2020, 2022 : SAMPWEIGHT
• 1994-1995 : SUPP2WT