Cost-Benefit Analysis: A How-To Guide for Tobacco Control Initiatives

Audience:

The primary audience is those working in tobacco control evaluation or research. Individuals who fund, plan, or implement tobacco control programs and policies will also benefit.

Key Points:

The Center for Tobacco Policy Research conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the Missouri Foundation for Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Initiative. Based on experiences with the study, this presentation will explain the process of planning and implementing a cost-benefit analysis of a multi-strategy tobacco control initiative. The presenters will also share tips and lessons learned, findings from the analysis, and how stakeholders have disseminated and utilized the findings.

Educational Experience:

The audience will learn how to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of a multi-strategy tobacco control initiative through a step-by-step presentation of the methodology utilized. Additionally, the audience will learn how to disseminate and utilize findings from a cost-benefit analysis through presentation of the evaluator and funder’s experiences and time for discussion amongst the audience and presenters.

Benefits:

Public health programs across the country have been hit hard by funding cuts. It is more important than ever to prove not only the effectiveness of tobacco control efforts, but also their return on investment. However, evaluating the costs and benefits of a multi-site initiative with a variety of outcomes can be challenging. This presentation will provide the audience with a straightforward methodological framework for conducting a cost-benefit analysis of a complex tobacco control initiative. It will also help the audience understand how results of such an analysis can be disseminated to and utilized by multiple stakeholders.