The TLMS Analysis File is our core file for analysis purposes.  This file contains Current Population Survey Tobacco Use Supplement (CPS-TUS) responses for selected survey samples from 1993 to 2018 and an additional subset from the 1985 CPS sample (limited tobacco information) with mortality follow up information through 2019 for each respondent. The TLMS Database consists of the TLMS Analysis File and supplemental files. Supplemental files will be linked to Medicare data, Medicaid data, and Decennial Census information at the tract and county level.  Additionally, characteristics of the areas near the respondent's location (e.g. distance to nearby hospitals, parks, etc.) will be linked.

Research access to the entire TLMS database is arranged through the Principal Investigators of the TLMS sponsoring agencies. Researchers complete and submit a research proposal to the Principal Investigator of a TLMS sponsoring agency.  Research topics of interest should fall within the general health interests of the sponsoring agency. Research proposals are then submitted by the sponsoring agency to the Census Bureau where they are logged in and then submitted to the TLMS Steering Committee for review and final approval.  The maximum review period is two weeks.  The Steering Committee determines the priority of all TLMS research. Committee approved projects are assigned to a statistician within the U.S. Census Bureau’s Mortality Research Group (MRG). The assigned MRG statistician works directly with the researcher as a statistical consultant and as the interface to the TLMS database to accomplish researcher goals.

As analysis proceeds, all intermediary results are immediately made available to the researcher for viewing through the Research Output Direct Access System (RODAS). This system allows researchers to make on the spot decisions about next steps in the analysis process and have the next analysis step implemented; all of this occurring on a flow basis. Results are viewed by the researcher using their own computer, through a secure network from a designated, confidential, location such as the researcher’s home or office. Once final research results have been obtained and placed in a table suitable for publication, the table will be submitted to the Census Bureau’s Data Review Board (DRB) for review and approval for release.

The use of RODAS allows the researcher to view intermediary, confidential, statistical outputs from analyses without having them reviewed for confidentiality issues by the DRB. To be eligible to use the RODAS, the researcher must have an approved research proposal and have completed the steps to be given the Census Bureau’s Special Sworn Status (SSS).