Best Modelling Practices for Assessing Tobacco Control Policy
Huang V, Head A, Hyseni L, et al. Tob Control. 10 Jan 2022. Epub ahead of print. Identifying best modelling practices for tobacco control policy simulations: a systematic review and a novel quality assessment framework.
https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/01/10/tobaccocontrol-2021-056825
“We found 146 eligible papers and 25 distinct models. Eight models only presented overall changes in mortality rather than explicitly considering smoking-related diseases. Only four models reported impacts on health inequalities, and none offered the source code. Overall, the higher-scored models achieved higher citation rates.
While fragments of good practices were widespread across the reviewed policy simulation models (PSMs), only a few included a ‘critical mass’ of the good practices specified in our quality assessment framework. This framework might, therefore, potentially serve as a benchmark and support sharing of good modelling practices.”
Comment: Policy modelling is now common in tobacco control, but knowing high-quality modelling practice provides guidance for better tobacco policy analysis.
Stephen Hamann
