Examining impact over time: The evaluation of Pennsylvania's Clean Indoor Air Act

It is essential to evaluate clean indoor air laws. The comprehensive evaluation plan for Pennsylvania's Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA) (effective September 2008), organized by the Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, includes short-term and intermediate studies to assess how implementation is ensuing; and long-term studies to assess the effects the law has had on the public's health and local economy. Pennsylvania's plan is guided by recognized evaluation standards and informed by previous clean indoor air evaluations performed by other states and their cities/counties. Five studies will be used to assess key short and intermediate measures needed to understand Pennsylvania's CIAA: an indoor air quality study; a compliance study; a public opinion survey; a cessation assessment; and implementation feedback. The ability to discuss and use results of these CIAA studies will help to demonstrate effectiveness of Pennsylvania's CIAA, inform next steps, engage stakeholders, and identify gaps within the law, implementation plan or enforcement plan. The results of these short and intermediate studies will also inform the planning of longer-term health and economic studies. Understanding shorter-term outcomes of CIAA will help to frame and contextualize the results and conclusions of health and economic analyses. In conclusion, conducting short-term and intermediate studies as part of a clean indoor air evaluation gives stakeholders important information on law implementation and effectiveness. These studies will inform educational efforts and critical longer-term examinations of health and economic impacts.