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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Frank Chaloupka, PhD¹, Cindy Tworek, PhD, MPH², Catherine Siebel, MA¹, Carol Schmitt, PhD³, and Anna Sandoval, MPH¹. (1) Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1747 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608, 312-413-8906, fjc@uic.edu, (2) Center for Tobacco Independence, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, ME 04102, (3) Batelle, 6115 Falls Rd, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21209

Objective: SmokeLess States (SLS) began in 1994, as a nationwide tobacco control initiative to fund policy objectives for state-level coalitions to reduce tobacco use. SLS includes media (news monitoring), legislation, and strength of tobacco control (SOTC) components. Evaluation determined SLS: impact on tobacco use and state programs; relationship to state-level funding; ability to shape policy decisions; and funding impact on policy outcomes. Methods: Evaluation occurred from 2000-2004. Media researchers reviewed US English-speaking newspapers in 2002-2003, coding over 40,000 tobacco-related articles for content, prominence, and tone, including policies favored/disfavored. Tobacco-related legislation from 2002-2003 was downloaded via StateNet and Westlaw, and categories were developed to code multiple bill groups. Cohen's Kappa measured inter-rater reliability, establishing validity. SOTC was developed, as a summary measure, from state surveys in 2000, 2002, and 2004, assessing tobacco program resources, components, and organization. Funding data were analyzed and linked to media, legislative, and SOTC policy outcomes. Results: Dedicated media funding focusing on specific policies resulted in more favorable policy coverage, potentially influencing policy outcomes and tobacco-use. Tobacco-related bills for ‘budget', ‘Master Settlement Agreement', and ‘tax' were most commonly introduced, suggesting model bills to identify and track. SOTC programs used funding to increase tobacco control activities, with the greatest increase in cessation. Funding related to media, legislation, and SOTC showed appreciable impacts on key policy outcomes. SLS evaluation characterizes change in tobacco programs and policy outcomes, helping to inform, shape, and focus efforts on funding and resources among states, advocates, and coalitions.

Learning Objectives:

• To evaluate legislative, media, and strength of tobacco control policies across states; To discuss implications of state policy actions; To discuss the impact of state-level funding on policy outcomes

Keywords: Tobacco Policy, Evaluation

Related Web page: www.impacteen.org/states/default.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No