Interaction of Population-based Approaches for Tobacco Control

This paper looks at program effectiveness results from data collected in 1996 and 1997 during Wave 1 of the Independent Evaluation of California\u27s Tobacco Control, Prevention, and Education Program (IEC, 1998). The issues discussed in this paper are based on certain assumptions about the tobacco-control atmosphere in California. These assumptions are 1) that tobacco control programs and activities do not occur in isolation; 2) that adults and youths throughout California were exposed to more than one tobacco control program or activity; and 3) that the California tobacco con- trol program delivers a consistent anti-tobacco message. Given these assumptions, the issue to be explored is whether exposure to multiple tobacco-control programs and activities will produce stronger anti-tobacco attitudes and beliefs than the effect of exposure to only one program or activity

Independent Evaluation of the California Tobacco Control Program: Relationships Between Program Exposure and Outcomes, 1996–1998

Objectives. This study sought to determine the effects of the California Tobacco Control Program on tobacco-related attitudes and behaviors. Methods. In 1996 and 1998, a telephone survey was conducted among adults in randomly selected households in 18 California counties. Tenth-grade youths in 84 randomly selected high schools completed a written survey. In analyses conducted at the county level, differences in outcomes were regressed on an index of program exposure. Results. Among adults, program exposure was associated with decreased smoking prevalence rates, increased no-smoking policies in homes, and decreased violations of workplace no-smoking policies. Among youths, there was no effect of program exposure on outcomes. Conclusions. These results suggest that the California Tobacco Control Program may have reduced adult smoking prevalence rates and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:975–983