255788 Use of Best Practices by Community Coalitions to Address Tobacco-related Disparities

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Rodney McCurdy, PhD MHA , School of Health and Human Services, Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
PURPOSE: In 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published best practices for tobacco coalitions in addressing tobacco-related disparities (TRDs). In California, tobacco control activities are conducted by community coalitions led by local public health departments (LHDs). This study examined the use of these best practices among community tobacco coalitions in California. Coalitions vary in membership and formalization of procedures and this variation may influence a coalition's ability to implement best practices and this may serve to exacerbate disparities for priority populations. RESEARCH AIMS: 1) Determine the level of best practice use among community coalitions in California; 2) Determine the context and construct validity of using the CDC-published best practices as a measure of community tobacco coalition performance in addressing TRDs; 3) Identify attributes of community tobacco coalitions associated with the use of best practices to address TRDs. These aims directly address state and national research priorities of reducing TRDs in priority populations. METHOD: We surveyed 61 local tobacco control program managers to assess the extent of best practice usage among community coalitions. Context and construct validity of best practices as a measure of coalition performance will be assessed. Multivariate regression will test hypotheses concerning associations of coalition diversity and formalization on best practice use. IMPLICATIONS: Results will 1) Inform policy-makers regarding the level of TRD best practice use in California communities; 2) Assist local program managers in addressing TRDs; and 3) Support future research efforts in assessing the performance of community health coalitions and partnerships.

Learning Areas:
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the extent of best-practice use to address tobacco-related disparities by community coalitions in California. 2. Identify coalition attributes associated with best-practice implementation in California communities. 3. Evaluate the validity of using established best practices to assess community coalition performance in addressing tobacco-related disparities.

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Special Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator for this study and have received a national-level grant to conduct this research. I have conducted and presented research using social network analysis methods. My research interests are in identifying attributes of high-performing community health coalitions.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4260.0: Across the Policy Spectrum: Cases from Tobacco Control