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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jennifer D. Keith, MPH, Kristin O. Minot, MS, Michelle Henry, and Jessica Kustoff. Research and Evaluation, Philadelphia Health Management Corporation, 260 S. Broad St., 20th fl, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215-985-2527, jkeith@phmc.org

Evaluation of tobacco control programs is critical to program improvement and highlighting success, especially when funds are decreasing. This presentation describes the design and results of a web-based survey, a key component in a retrospective evaluation of the first three years of Pennsylvania's Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program, supported by funds from the Master Settlement Agreement and CDC. Philadelphia Health Management Corporation is the lead evaluator for this statewide evaluation. The web-based survey incorporates the experiences and perspectives of 51 local tobacco control programs and seven statewide initiatives into the evaluation. The local programs in Pennsylvania are diverse and located in rural, urban and suburban areas, so it was critical to include feedback from local program managers as well as statewide contractors. Although the retrospective evaluation also includes a comprehensive document review, this survey moves beyond secondary documents to ask questions to those directly involved with programs. Allowing respondents to complete the survey on-line facilitates quick and economical data collection. The survey focuses on program and evaluation activities, data capacity, outcomes and indicators from the first three years of the program. Topics such as satisfaction, training, communication and funding are also addressed. The survey provides evidence of the strengths and weaknesses of programming and evaluation activities across the state. This presentation will show how the findings from the web survey will guide the development of a standardized reporting system to support process and outcome evaluation and to inform the future direction of tobacco control in the state.

Learning Objectives: