As the first state to reach a settlement with the tobacco industry, Mississippi was among the first to implement evaluation measures for statewide programs funded through dollars recouped from the tobacco industry. In the spring of 1999, the Mississippi State Department of Health contracted with the Social Science Research Center (SSRC) to conduct an evaluation of the Mississippi Tobacco Pilot Program. Toward this goal, researchers at the SSRC developed a social organizational approach to monitor the social climate in which public health efforts take place. This approach has the capability to guide intervention efforts, as well as to provide a benchmark for evaluation. Specifically, The 1999 Mississippi Social Climate Survey of Tobacco Use and Tobacco Control was designed to measure, and ultimately monitor the fundamental position of tobacco control and tobacco use in Mississippi. The survey identified social norms, practices, and beliefs concerning tobacco use and tobacco control within important societal institutions, such as education health and medical care. Heuristic measures were applied to these societal norms, practices and beliefs in order to establish benchmark information about the culture in which the tobacco pilot program was implemented. Public health administrators and social science researchers will use this benchmark study to advocate funding for best practices in tobacco. In an effort to translate tobacco research more broadly, Mississippi will use this technique in assessment of worksite health promotion and in community health assessment.
Learning Objectives: Participants will become familiar with a social organizational approach to monitoring health issues. This approach is applied to tobacco control. An assessment of the social climate of tobacco is a crucial component in the determination of program implementation
Keywords: Tobacco Control, Outcome Measures
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.