PATH Study FAQs for Researchers

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PATH Study Series Page

Overview of the PATH Study

The PATH Study is a collaboration between the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On September 19, 2011, NIH/NIDA awarded a research contract to Westat, an independent research firm in Maryland, to conduct the PATH Study. This contract was renewed to Westat on April 1, 2016.

The FSPTCA was signed into law in 2009 and gave the FDA the authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products.

Some of the specific authorities that the FSPTCA grants to FDA include:

  • Restricting tobacco sales, distribution, and marketing to youth
  • Requiring disclosure of tobacco product ingredients
  • Implementing standards for tobacco products to protect public health
  • Requiring warning labels on smokeless tobacco products

The PATH Study is a national longitudinal cohort study. The field test for the PATH Study took place between November 2012 and February 2013. Below is a table of data collection Waves with respective dates for data availability.

Wave # Begin Date End Date RUF Release Date PUF Release Date
Wave 1 September 2013 December 2014 December 2015 August 2016
Wave 2 October 2014 October 2015 March 2017 June 2017
Wave 3 October 2015 October 2016 May 2018 September 2018
Wave 4 December 2016 January 2018 May 2019 November 2019
Wave 4.5
(Special Collection)		 December 2017 December 2018 March 2020 September 2020
Wave 5 December 2018 November 2019 February 2021 September 2021
Wave 5.5
(Special Collection)		 December 2019 December 2020 April 2022 October 2022
Adult Telephone Survey
(Special Collection)		 September 2020 December 2020 April 2022 October 2022
Wave 6 March 2021 November 2021 March 2023 September 2023
Wave 7 January 2022 April 2023 Spring 2024* Fall 2024*
Wave 7.5
(Special Collection)		 April 2023 December 2023 Winter 2024* Summer 2025*

* Projected dates may change

Notice for Wave 6 Data Collection of the PATH Study:  For the continued safety of PATH Study participants and interviewers, data collection for Wave 6 began with telephone interviews only. As conditions improved in certain parts of the country, the PATH Study began in-person interviews with participants on May 7, 2021. All in-person contacts with participants were conducted in compliance with local and state restrictions for COVID-19 mitigation. Wave 6 data were collected with a mix of telephone and in-person interviews.

No biospecimens were collected in Wave 6. The Wave 6 fielded questionnaires are available for download under the Documentation and Publications topic below.

Notice for Wave 7 Data Collection of the PATH Study: Data collection for Wave 7 began with in-person interviews. Telephone interviews remain an option for participants who are not yet comfortable with in-person interviewing.

Urine biospecimens are being collected from select participants in Wave 7. The Wave 7 fielded questionnaires are available for download under the Documentation and Publications topic below.

An infographic that provides a summary of PATH Study design features, data collection, access to study data, and selected changes to questionnaires is available here (pdf).

A table summarizing the PATH Study data collection protocol by wave (pdf) is available here (pdf). The table shows PATH Study protocols for Waves 1 through 6, including special collection studies. The protocols outlined in the table for each wave include data collection period, interview modes, participants and instruments fielded, and biospecimen collection.

Documentation and Publications

The Adult and Youth/Parent questionnaires and supporting documentation for Waves 1 through 5 are available on the RUF and PUF pages on the NAHDAP website and also provided below.

Wave 1

Wave 2

Wave 3

Wave 4

Wave 5

Wave 6

The Biomarker questionnaires and supporting documentation for Waves 1 through 5 are available on the Biomarker RUF page on the NAHDAP Website and also provided below.

Wave 7

Please note that the Wave 7 instruments below are not the final versions of the instruments, but they are the versions that were fielded. The final annotated instruments and codebooks, updated in response to any issues identified and corrected during or after fielding, will be available when the data are released.

The PATH Study's documentation is available for your use and may be reproduced in whole or in part without permission from NIH's National Institute on Drug Abuse or FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. Please cite your use of the PATH Study Questionnaire in your publication appropriately using the "Data and Documentation" citation included in the response to the next question.

Please note the citations below are templates. We request researchers replace "YYYY-MM-DD" with the current version date (date of distribution by ICPSR for the current version of the respective data collection) and replace "XX" with the current version number. The version date and version number are displayed at the top of the web page for each study in the PATH Study series. The suggested citations for various PATH Study offerings are specified below.

PATH Study Restricted Use Files (RUF):
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Restricted-Use Files. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM-DD. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36231.vXX

PATH Study Biomarker Restricted Use Files (BRUF):
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Biomarker Restricted-Use Files. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM-DD. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36840.vXX

PATH Study Special Collection Restricted Use Files (SCRUF):
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Special Collection Restricted-Use Files. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM-DD. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR37519.vXX

PATH Study Public Use Files (PUF):
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Public-Use Files. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM-DD. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36498.vXX

PATH Study Special Collection Public Use Files (SCPUF):
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Special Collection Public-Use Files. Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM-DD. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR37786.vXX

PATH Study Restricted Use Files (RUF) User Guide:
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Restricted-Use Files, User Guide. ICPSR36231-vXX Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM-DD. http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36231.userguide

PATH Study State Identifier Restricted Use Files (SIRUF) User Guide:
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] State Identifier Restricted-Use Files, User Guide. ICPSR36231-vXX Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM- DD. http://doi.org/10.3886/70z7-0j44

PATH Study Tobacco Universal Product Code (UPC) Restricted Use Files User Guide:
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Tobacco Universal Product Code (UPC) Restricted-Use Files, User Guide. ICPSR36231-vXX Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM-DD. http://doi.org/10.3886/c0kr-hx51

PATH Study Biomarker Restricted Use Files (BRUF) User Guide:
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Biomarker Restricted-Use Files, User Guide. ICPSR36840-vXX Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM- DD. https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36840.userguide_restricted

PATH Study Special Collection Restricted Use Files (SCRUF) User Guide:
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Restricted-Use Files, User Guide. ICPSR36231-vXX Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM-DD. http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36231.userguide

PATH Study Public Use Files (PUF) User Guide:
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Public-Use Files, User Guide. ICPSR36498-vXX Ann Arbor, MI: Inter- university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM-DD. http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36498.userguide

PATH Study Special Collection Public Use Files (SCPUF) User Guide:
United States Department of Health and Human Services. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse, and United States Department of Health and Human Services. Food and Drug Administration. Center for Tobacco Products. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study [United States] Public-Use Files, User Guide. ICPSR36498-vXX Ann Arbor, MI: Inter- university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], YYYY-MM-DD. http://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36498.userguide

PATH Study Series Page

https://doi.org/10.3886/Series606

Please note the DOI links below are templates. We request researchers replace “XX” with the current version number. The version number is displayed at the top of the web page for each study in the PATH Study series.

https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36231.vXX

https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36840.vXX

https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR37519.vXX

https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36498.vXX

https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR37786.vXX

Due to publication restrictions by journals, the PATH Study is not permitted to distribute pdfs of the articles published using the PATH Study data. However, these articles are cited on the PATH Study Series page. You may be able to access these publications through your individual and/or institutional subscriptions. Publications supported by NIH funds will become publicly available at PubMed Central no later than 12 months after the official date of publication, as noted in the NIH Public Access Policy. Other journals may make their articles open-access. Alternatively, you can contact the corresponding author directly to request a copy of the article.

A list of PATH Study-supported posters and presentations (pdf) can be found here. If you are interested in obtaining a pdf copy of the PATH Study-supported posters and presentations, please email the request directly to the presentation/poster author. Please note that PATH Study-related presentations that were not supported by the contract are not included in this list.

Yes, the PATH Study has created a series of cross-sectional and longitudinal data tables and figures that provide information about tobacco use among youth (aged 12-17), young adults (aged 18-24), and adults (aged 25+). These Data Tables and Figures are available for public use.

Special Collection Studies

Wave 4.5 was a special data collection that occurred between Wave 4 and Wave 5. Data were collected from PATH Study youth participants who were aged 12 to 17 years old at the time of Wave 4.5.

Wave 5.5 was a special data collection that occurred between Wave 5 and Wave 6. Data were collected from PATH Study youth participants who were aged 13 to 17 years old and adult participants who were aged 18 and 19 years old at the time of Wave 5.5.

Data collection for Wave 5.5 was temporarily suspended on March 17, 2020, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among participants and interviewers, and to comply with local and state restrictions.

In order to maintain the safety of PATH Study participants and interviewers, data collection for Wave 5.5 resumed in July 2020 as telephone interviews only and concluded on December 31, 2020. The Wave 5.5 RUF and PUF contain weighted data only from these telephone interviews.

The Wave 5.5 annotated instruments are available for download under the under the next question.

The PATH Study Adult Telephone Survey (PATH-ATS) was a special data collection that occurred between September 10, 2020 and December 20, 2020. Data were collected by telephone from a subsample of PATH Study adult participants who were aged 20 or older at the time of PATH-ATS. The PATH-ATS annotated instruments are available for download under the next question.

Wave 7.5 is a special data collection that is in progress between Wave 7 and Wave 8. Data are being collected from PATH Study youth participants who are 12 to 17 years old and adult participants who are 18 to 22 years old at the time of Wave 7.5.

No biospecimens were collected during special collection studies.

The questionnaires and supporting documentation are available on the RUF page on the NAHDAP website and provided below.

Wave 4.5

Wave 5.5

PATH-ATS

Wave 7.5

Please note that the Wave 7.5 instruments below are not the final versions of the instruments, but they are the versions that were fielded. The final annotated instruments and codebooks, updated in response to any issues identified and corrected during or after fielding, will be available when the data are released.

Access to the Data

The questionnaire data in the PATH Study RUF are only accessible through the ICPSR Virtual Data Enclave (VDE). Use the "Access Restricted Data" link in the PATH Study RUF Access Notes. The initial screen in the VDE Management System describes the process to apply. Applicants are encouraged to also read our online VDE Guide.

The PATH Study Biomarker RUF is only accessible through the ICPSR Virtual Data Enclave (VDE). Use the "Access Restricted Data" link in the PATH Study Biomarker RUF Access Notes. The initial screen in the VDE Management System describes the process to apply. Applicants are encouraged to also read our online VDE Guide.

Researchers interested in accessing PATH Study biospecimens for biospecimen research should refer to the PATH Study Biospecimen Access Program page. This page provides instructions on applying for access, the schedule for reviewing applications, and frequently asked questions about the program.

Please refer to our VDE Guide, which includes information about using the VDE and how to request disclosure review of VDE output. Please cite your use of the PATH Study RUFs in your publication using the citations provided in the PATH Study RUF study description and the PATH Study Biomarker RUF study description. In addition, use the citation web form to notify ICPSR of your publication so that it can be added to the ICPSR Bibliography.

Since you are using the PATH Study PUF downloaded from the NAHDAP Website, you can analyze and publish from those data without having NAHDAP review any of your materials before publication. However, when presenting or publishing on that data, remember that you are required by the PUF's Terms of Use to protect the identity of all research subjects and the confidentiality of the information that they provided from deductive disclosure. Please cite your use of the PATH Study PUF in your publication using the citation provided in the PATH Study PUF study description and in the FAQ above (How can I cite PATH Study data and documentation). In addition, use the citation web form to notify ICPSR of your publication so that it can be added to the ICPSR Bibliography.

Learning Resources

The PATH Study team has prepared two instructional videos to help researchers.

  • The PATH Study 101 video provides an overview of the PATH Study design and methods, the data collection protocol, data types, data collection instruments, and data documentation.
  • The PATH Study 102 video provides an overview of accessing and using PATH Study data, an introduction to the Biospecimen Access Program (BAP), and a review of resources related to the PATH Study on the NAHDAP web pages.
  • The PATH Study 103 video provides an overview of the complex sample design and available weights (including cross-sectional, single-wave, and all-waves, weights) in Waves 1 through 5.

Questions about the collection, content, weighting, documentation, or structure of PATH Study data may be submitted to the new Westat email: PATHDataUserQuestions@Westat.com . NOTE: This email address is not for questions about statistical analysis or analytic guidance. For analytic questions, researchers may wish to consult with statisticians and analysts at their institutions. Additionally, the PATH Study User Forum can be used to obtain feedback and engage in discussion with other PATH Study data users.

Data Analysis

The PATH Study is unable to assist with individual analytic questions from researchers. Researchers are encouraged to consult other pages at ICPSR such as the Help and User Guide and the Teaching & Learning pages. You may also wish to consult with statisticians and analysts at your institution with more specific questions.

The PATH Study does not provide funding for secondary data analysis. However, interested researchers are encouraged to check the NIH Guide to Grants and Contracts page for funding opportunity announcements that suit their research goals.

Specific Data Content

The nicotine dependence questions were developed using various nicotine dependence scales, including the following: Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (WISDM (primary and secondary), Hooked on Nicotine Checklist (HONC), Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (risky use, social impairment, impaired control, withdrawal) and Fagerstrom.

The generic tobacco product images used in the questionnaire are included in the appendix of the annotated instruments. However, due to the PATH Study's legal agreement with the advertising monitoring and aggregation companies that furnished the tobacco product advertisements used in the first wave of the study, the specific tobacco product images cannot be released.