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. In order to monitor progress towards intermediate goals such as policy changes, changes in social norms, exposure of individuals to environmental tobacco smoke, and the impact of pro-tobacco influences, researchers at the SSRC developed a social organizational approach to monitor the social climate in which public health efforts take place. The survey identified normative beliefs about tobacco use, clean air practices, and health beliefs within important societal institutions, such as the household, education, work place, and recreational settings. Researchers at the SSRC administered the Social Climate Survey of Tobacco Control a representative sample of US adults in July of 2000, and intend to replicate the survey in July of 2001. The 2000 National Social Climate Survey revealed significant disparities in the support for clean air policies in convenience stores, restaurants, fast food establishments, bars, and outdoor parks and actual policy. A significantly higher percentage of respondents indicated that each of these venues should be smokefree than reported that these venues in their community are actually smokefree. See www.ssrc.msstate.edu/socialclimate
Learning Objectives: 1. Recognize the importance of intermediate goals in tobacco control programs - such as changes in the social climate, and the need to monitor progress towards these goals 2. Describe the disconnect between public opinion and clean air policy
Keywords: Tobacco Policy, Tobacco Control
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