Learning Objectives: Describe tobacco control program intervention areas for which adequate impact data are not available. Identify resources for impact evaluation systematic reviews, and identify research methods commonly employed for program impact evaluations.
Abstract: Problem:
Tobacco control programs are struggling to reduce tobacco use among adults and youth, and protect people from second hand smoke, yet not all interventions have been researched adequately to assess their impact. This presentation seeks to demonstrate which interventions have been adequately research, and which interventions require additional research to determine their impact. This information is useful for tobacco control program planners in determining the limitations of various interventions; it is also useful for researchers in determining where to focus research activities.
Methods:
Intervention impact evaluations were identified through a review of the literature, focusing on systematic literature reviews. More weight is placed on interventions whose effectiveness is confirmed through one or more systematic review. Where systematic reviews are not available, individual studies are reported. More weight is placed on those studies using comparison groups and representative sampling.
Results:
Programs to prevent youth access have been shown to be successful in preventing youth from purchasing tobacco, but not successful in reducing youth consumption. Youth empowerment campaigns as yet have not been well evaluated for effectiveness.
Discussion: Many widely used interventions have been well researched, and proven to be effective either alone or in combination with other interventions. Some interventions however have not yet been well-researched. This presentation points to the need for further research, particularly for youth empowerment and youth access interventions. Tobacco control programs can play an important role in increasing the knowledge base by incorporating control group evaluations into interventions which have not yet been well evaluated.
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