Tobacco Policies (tobacco + policy)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


School Tobacco Policies in a Tobacco-Growing State

JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 6 2005
Ellen J. Hahn
Trained health department staff contacted 1028 schools; 691 (67%) participated in a phone survey, which lasted an average of 19 minutes. Variables of interest were indoor and outdoor smoking policies, fund-raising in Bingo halls, provision of cessation and prevention programs, owning or leasing a tobacco base, if the school received money from tobacco companies, type of school (public vs private), and school setting (urban vs rural). Only 20% of Kentucky schools reported comprehensive tobacco-free policies. Urban area schools were nearly twice as likely to have a tobacco-free campus than rural schools. Schools that did fund-raising in smoky Bingo halls were 30% less likely to have tobacco-free school policies. While few schools had a tobacco affiliation, those that received money from tobacco companies or grew tobacco were nearly 3 times as likely to provide cessation resources, compared to schools without tobacco affiliation. Rural schools were less likely to be tobacco free and provide cessation services. School-related, off-campus, extracurricular events might be considered as an element of tobacco-free school policy. Schools with tobacco affiliation may provide more cessation resources due to the increased prevalence of tobacco use in these areas. (J Sch Health. 2005;75(6):219,225) [source]


Differential impact of state tobacco control policies among race and ethnic groups

ADDICTION, Issue 2007
John A. Tauras
ABSTRACT Aims This paper describes patterns of racial and ethnic cigarette use in the United States and discusses changes in state-level tobacco control policies. Moreover, this paper reviews the existing econometric literature on racial and ethnic smoking and discusses the limitations of that research. Finally, this paper outlines an agenda for future research. Methods Patterns of racial and ethnic smoking and changes in state-level tobacco control policies in the United States were obtained from a variety of sources, including surveys and government and private documents and databases. After an extensive literature search was completed, the existing research was scrutinized and recommendations for much-needed future research were put forth. Findings Despite the fact that certain racial and ethnic minorities bear a disproportionate share of the overall health burden of tobacco, less than a handful of econometric studies have examined the effects of state-level public policies on racial and ethnic smoking. The existing literature finds Hispanics and African Americans to be more responsive to changes in cigarette prices than whites. Only one study examined other state-level tobacco policies. The findings from that study implied that adolescent white male smoking was responsive to changes in smoke-free air laws, while adolescent black smoking was responsive to changes in youth access laws. Conclusions While much has been learned from prior econometric studies on racial and ethnic smoking in the United States, the existing literature suffers from numerous limitations that should be addressed in future research. Additional research that focuses on races and ethnicities other than white, black and Hispanic is warranted. Furthermore, future studies should use more recent data, hold sentiment toward tobacco constant and control for a comprehensive set of tobacco policies that take into account not only the presence of the laws, but also the level of restrictiveness of each policy. [source]


The Relationship Between School Policies and Youth Tobacco Use*

JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 1 2009
Monica L. Adams MPH
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND:, The school setting is frequently used both to educate youth about risks involved in tobacco use and to implement tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Given that school-based programs have resulted in limited success, it is necessary to identify other setting-level intervention strategies. School tobacco policies represent a type of universal intervention that might have some promise for preventing or reducing tobacco use. METHODS:, Hierarchical linear modeling was used to assess whether school tobacco policies were related to observations of tobacco use and current smoking among 16,561 seventh through twelfth graders attending 40 middle and high schools in Illinois. RESULTS:, Results indicated that the enforcement of school tobacco policies, but not the comprehensiveness of those policies, was associated with fewer observations of tobacco use by minors on school grounds as well as lower rates of current smoking among students. CONCLUSIONS:, The school setting is a key system to impact youth tobacco use. Findings underscore the need to train school personnel to enforce school tobacco policy. [source]


Effect of School Policy on Tobacco Use by School Personnel in Bihar, India

JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 1 2004
Dhirendra N. Sinha
ABSTRACT: This study examined the relationship between school tobacco policies and tobacco use prevalence among school personnel. Two subsets of schools were identified in Bihar, India: Federal schools (with a tobacco policy), and State schools (without a tobacco policy). Stratified probability samples of 50 schools each were selected. The survey was conducted through an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. School personnel from State schools (non-policy schools) reported significantly higher daily cigarette smoking and daily current smokeless tobacco use compared to personnel in Federal schools (policy schools). Teachers in State schools did not teach about health consequences of tobacco, and they had not received training for such teaching. Extent of teaching about health consequences of tobacco varied across topics for teachers in Federal schools. They received negligible training, but more than 35% reported access to teaching materials. More than one-half the personnel from Federal schools knew about their school's policy prohibiting tobacco use among students and school personnel, and about policy enforcement. Personnel in State schools did not know about tobacco control policy in their schools. All school personnel in both types of schools were near unanimous in supporting policy prohibiting tobacco use in schools. The study demonstrated an association between enacting a school policy regarding tobacco use and school personnel's use of tobacco, curricular teaching, and practical training of students. Findings suggest that more extensive introduction of comprehensive school policies may help reduce tobacco use among school personnel. [source]


The Relationship Between School Policies and Youth Tobacco Use*

JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 1 2009
Monica L. Adams MPH
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND:, The school setting is frequently used both to educate youth about risks involved in tobacco use and to implement tobacco prevention and cessation programs. Given that school-based programs have resulted in limited success, it is necessary to identify other setting-level intervention strategies. School tobacco policies represent a type of universal intervention that might have some promise for preventing or reducing tobacco use. METHODS:, Hierarchical linear modeling was used to assess whether school tobacco policies were related to observations of tobacco use and current smoking among 16,561 seventh through twelfth graders attending 40 middle and high schools in Illinois. RESULTS:, Results indicated that the enforcement of school tobacco policies, but not the comprehensiveness of those policies, was associated with fewer observations of tobacco use by minors on school grounds as well as lower rates of current smoking among students. CONCLUSIONS:, The school setting is a key system to impact youth tobacco use. Findings underscore the need to train school personnel to enforce school tobacco policy. [source]


Effect of School Policy on Tobacco Use by School Personnel in Bihar, India

JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 1 2004
Dhirendra N. Sinha
ABSTRACT: This study examined the relationship between school tobacco policies and tobacco use prevalence among school personnel. Two subsets of schools were identified in Bihar, India: Federal schools (with a tobacco policy), and State schools (without a tobacco policy). Stratified probability samples of 50 schools each were selected. The survey was conducted through an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. School personnel from State schools (non-policy schools) reported significantly higher daily cigarette smoking and daily current smokeless tobacco use compared to personnel in Federal schools (policy schools). Teachers in State schools did not teach about health consequences of tobacco, and they had not received training for such teaching. Extent of teaching about health consequences of tobacco varied across topics for teachers in Federal schools. They received negligible training, but more than 35% reported access to teaching materials. More than one-half the personnel from Federal schools knew about their school's policy prohibiting tobacco use among students and school personnel, and about policy enforcement. Personnel in State schools did not know about tobacco control policy in their schools. All school personnel in both types of schools were near unanimous in supporting policy prohibiting tobacco use in schools. The study demonstrated an association between enacting a school policy regarding tobacco use and school personnel's use of tobacco, curricular teaching, and practical training of students. Findings suggest that more extensive introduction of comprehensive school policies may help reduce tobacco use among school personnel. [source]