SSM featuring 2022’s top scoring abstracts … Vincy Huang

Vincy Huang

SSM featuring 2022’s top scoring abstracts … Vincy Huang!

Vincy Huang is a PhD student based in the Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems at the University of Liverpool. At 2022’s ASM in Exeter, her abstract Should England raise the minimum age of access to tobacco products? A microsimulation policy model to quantify health, equity and cost impacts was one of the top 10 highest scoring. Below, she tells us about this project.

Vincy Huang

Department of Public Health, Policy and systems, University of Liverpool

PhD Student

A bit about yourself

I am PhD student in my last year in the Department of Public Health, Policy and Systems at the University of Liverpool. I am interested in applying quantitative methods to generate evidence for tobacco control policymaking in England.

What are you working on?

My PhD project focuses on developing a simulation model to generate evidence in guiding tobacco control policies in England. This microsimulation model, IMPACT_HINT, simulates the close-to-reality English population from an individual level using census data. IMPACT_HINTprojects the policy impact from health, cost-effectiveness and equity perspectives. As part of my PhD work, I conducted a systematic review of the existing tobacco control policy simulation models.I plan to extend the model to include electronic cigarette usage status.

Tell us about the work you presented at 2022’s ASM.

During the 2022 ASM, I presented the research outcomes on ‘Should England raise the minimum age of access to tobacco products? A microsimulation policy model to quantify health, equity and cost impacts’. We used this developed microsimulation model – IMPACT_HINTto simulate the policy scenario which increases the minimum access age to tobacco to 21 years old in England. IMPACT_HINT projected the policy outcomes in 50 years and quantified the tobacco MALA21 policy impact on health, costs and equity.

Preliminary results suggest the MALA21 policy might reduce smoking prevalence by approximately 5.1% over the 50-year time horizon. It might prevent 780,000 case-years smoking-related disease, with about 66,000 fewer deaths. The biggest reductions would likely occur in the most deprived. It could generate healthcare and social care savings of approximately £300m, with most occurring some three decades after policy implementation. The results indicate that raising the minimum age of legal tobacco access from 18 to 21 in England would likely generate significant health and economic gains and reduce smoking inequalities, especially over the mid-term. This move would also enhance/extend the near-term benefits of other tobacco policies.

How did you find last year’s ASM in Exeter?

I really enjoyed the Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Exeter. It was a great opportunity to network with researchers in this field. This in-person networking offered a totally different experience compared with the previous virtual networking – more chances to meet people, have interesting conversations and learn about their research. Moreover, various sessions of this ASM including workshops, oral presentations, and poster presentations, helped me to see the existing research, discuss data and methods, and gain research inspiration. Lastly, presenting my work to a broader audience in ASM offered a valuable opportunity for me to discuss and receive feedback on my research. Importantly, I totally enjoyed the view from the Exeter campus and the delicious scones offered during the conference!