The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #42377

Robert Cameron McMillen, PhD¹, Julie Breen, BA², and Arthur G. Cosby, PhD¹. (1) Social Science Research Center, 103 Research Park, Mississippi State, MS 39762, 662.325.2742, robert.mcmillen@ssrc.msstate.edu, (2) Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, 103 Research Park, Mississippi State, MS 39762

Tobacco control programs are becoming increasingly comprehensive and targeting broader objectives such as social and political change. Prevalence rates and per capita consumption measures are frequently the yardsticks with which tobacco control programs are evaluated. However, comprehensive tobacco control programs have moved toward logic models that incorporate intermediate desirable outcomes that focus on attitude and behavior change. To enhance the evaluation of progress toward these goals, we designed the Social Climate Survey to measure and ultimately monitor the fundamental position of tobacco control in society. The Social Climate Survey of Tobacco Control is an annual cross-sectional, random-digit-dialing telephone survey that assesses normative beliefs about tobacco use, public and private clean air practices, and health beliefs within important societal institutions, such as the household, education, work place, and recreational settings. Comparisons of data from the 2000 and 2001 national surveys revealed significant increases on a substantial number of indicators. This discussion will highlight these changes, as well as the results of the 2002 national survey. Improvements in the social climate from 2000 to 2001 include: more homes with smoking bans, more households that do not allow smoking in the presence of children, and more support for smokefree work places, shopping malls and fast food restaurants.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to

• 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
• Describe improvements in the social climate since 2000

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Tobacco Policy

Related Web page: www.ssrc.msstate.edu/socialclimate

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.