The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66611

W. Douglas Evans, PhD¹, Karla Sneegas², Miranda Spitznagle², Alec Ulasevich, PhD³, and Sarah Ray¹. (1) American Institutes for Research, 10720 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20901, 301-592-2215, devans@air.org, (2) Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency, 150 West Market Street, Suite 406, Indianapolis, IN 46204, (3) Research and Evaluation, American Institutes for Research, 10720 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20901

This session will share lessons learned about evaluation of community-based components of the state of Indiana's comprehensive tobacco control program. Indiana is one of the few state programs in the Nation funded at the CDC-recommended per capita level. As a tobacco-growing state, it faces major political and economic hurdles in tobacco control, especially in changing policies and social norms at the community level. The largest single component of the program's funding has been for community and grassroots efforts to control and prevent smoking. The session will begin with how Indiana developed community-based programs, including major funding in minority communities, and supported them through TAT. Next, presenters will describe the comprehensive Indiana evaluation system, and several innovative community research methods, process and impact measures, and a Web-based data collection system. Techniques to engage stakeholders, ensure coordination, and avoid pitfalls are highlighted. Next, methods, measures, and analysis of process and impact measures are discussed. The combined analysis of community-based and statewide surveillance data is discussed. Web-based data collection from 92 community, and 29 minority community programs is described. Early process and impact data from these programs are presented. Use of data in program planning and ongoing analysis techniques are discussed. In conclusion, the session gives communities and states still in the early stages of implementing evaluations valuable information and demonstrates the value of an in-depth community program evaluation component. Established programs will gain new insights to use as their program plans and evaluation needs evolve.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to:
• - Identify the distinctive role of community-based components of a comprehensive program
• - Articulate methods and measures for evaluating community-based programs
• - Develop a community evaluation for a local or statewide public health program

Keywords: Community Research, Tobacco Control

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency American Institutes for Research
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.