Characterization of tobacco consumption in the adult population in Colombia: proposals for

Abstract

In Colombia, population studies and surveys have incorporated questions on tobacco consumption in adults, although no standardized questionnaires exist. This article aimed to identify the studies or surveys that have characterized tobacco consumption in adults in Colombia and analyze the variables included for this purpose according to their usefulness. The web pages of official organizations were reviewed, and a narrative review of the studies and surveys published until February 2022 was carried out. Eleven studies or surveys were identified that included a variable number of questions on tobacco consumption, all of which allowed estimating the prevalence of current smokers but not that of ex-smokers. The target age of the study is not homogeneous; the scope is national in the majority, and there is enormous variability in the questions. Standardizing the instruments that help estimate the prevalence of tobacco consumption should be a priority in Colombia.