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

Abstract #72650

Frances Stillman, EdD¹, Warren J. Strauss, ScM², Carol L. Schmitt, PhD³, Pamela I. Clark, PhD³, and Jyothi Nagaraja, MS². (1) Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21209, 443-287-6360, fstillma@jhsph.edu, (2) Statistics and Data Analysis Systems, Battelle Memorial Institute, 505 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43201-2693, (3) Battelle Centers for Public Health Research and Evaluation, 6115 Falls Road, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21209

Evaluating comprehensive tobacco control programs is challenging. In 1999, a survey of state agencies and organizations measured resources, capacity and efforts that were dedicated to tobacco control. This survey information was combined in a hierarchical fashion to create an index variable which measured SoTC at the state-level. This index was used in the evaluation of the ASSIST program. A follow-up survey was performed in 2002 to evaluate the RWJF “SmokeLess States” program. This presentation will provide an overview of the methods used to develop the SoTC index, and the data reduction techniques that were used. A description of how SoTC has changed in the states from 1999 to 2002 will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this presentation, conference the learner will be able to
• 1. Describe the Strength of Tobacco Control index.
• 2. Describe how SoTC scores change over time from 1999 to 2002 in various states.
• 3. Learn how changes in SoTC can be accounted for in longitudinal studies of smoking prevalence and tobacco consumption.

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Evaluation

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.