Hidden populations in household surveys on smoking prevalence with Emma Beard

In this episode, Dr Tsen Vei Lim speaks to Dr Emma Beard, a lecturer in statistics and quantitative methods at University College London. The interview covers Emma’s research report titled, ‘How much does the absence of the ‘hidden population’ from United Kingdom household surveys underestimate smoking prevalence?’

· How we normally estimate the smoking prevalence reported in official statistics [01:28]

· Why it is important to consider the hidden population [01:55]

· The consequences of not taking into account the hidden population when estimating smoking prevalence [02:35]

· The ‘workbook method’: how we estimate the hidden population [02:55]

· The key findings and implications of these findings [03:30]

· The size of the hidden population in the UK [04:42]

· The huge undertaking of this research project to find these data [05:25]

· The consideration of adolescent populations within smoking prevalence statistics [06:44]

· What can be done within research to be more inclusive of hidden populations [07:52]

· How Emma’s research can contribute to policy and practice [08:44]

· The argument for more and better data to include hidden populations [10:00]

In Emma’s paper, the hidden population for household surveys was defined as people from or living in communal establishments (e.g. care homes, student residence, prison), immigration detention centres, Gypsy, Roma and Travelling Communities, short-term accommodation, and those experiencing homelessness, including sofa surfing.

About Emma Beard: Dr Beard is a Lecturer in Statistics and Quantitative Methods at University College London. She has over 130 publications on a variety of topics, with a key focus on tobacco harm reduction, high-risk alcohol consumption, and statistical methodology. Her research focuses on evaluating smoking cessation interventions and policies. She is a Deputy Methodological and Statistical Editor for the journal Addiction.

About Tsen Vei Lim: Dr Tsen Vei Lim is an academic fellow supported by the Society for the Study of Addiction, currently based at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge. His research integrates computational modelling, experimental psychology, and neuroimaging to understand the neuropsychological basis of addictive behaviours. He holds a PhD in Psychiatry from the University of Cambridge (UK) and a BSc in Psychology from the University of Bath (UK).

Original editorial: How much does the absence of the ‘hidden population’ from United Kingdom household surveys underestimate smoking prevalence? https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70071

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