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In 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published
Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs, the first
science-based set of recommendations on how states should
develop and fund comprehensive tobacco control programs. The Best Practices
Project explored how states were using the CDC's Best Practices guidelines,
and identified the facilitating factors and challenges to implementing
a comprehensive tobacco control program. Specifically, the project goals
were
- To develop a comprehensive picture of a state's tobacco control program;
- To examine the effects of political, organizational, and financial
factors on state tobacco control programs; and
- To learn how states used the CDC's Best Practices guidelines.
The Project was funded by the American Legacy Foundation.
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Ten states were invited to participate in the process evaluation, based
on a variety of criteria, including:
- program maturity
- geographic location
- presence of tobacco farming
During the evaluations, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected.
The tobacco control program manager from the lead agency responsible for
coordinating the tobacco control program completed
a Tobacco Control Program Profile addressing background information
about the program, such as staffing, training, funding, surveillance and
evaluation activities, and relationships with other states. The lead agency
also identified key tobacco control partners throughout the state who
were key stakeholders or had a unique role or perspective. Semi-structured
interviews were conducted with these partners, addressing
the following topics:
- The state's financial and political climates regarding tobacco control;
- Organizational capacity of the program;
- The tobacco control partner network;
- Use of CDC's Best Practices;
- The major program goals; and
- Tobacco-related disparities.
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