Innovations in Evaluation of the Health/Social/Cost Impact of MUH Policies

Audience: The panel discussion will benefit individuals in various work settings, roles, and levels of tobacco control experience. However, the discussion will be especially beneficial for tobacco control researchers/evaluators, policy planners/organizers, and program directors/managers working in state and local public health departments, CBOs, and foundations. Key Points: Tobacco-free living is among CDC’s “Winnable Battles” and regulatory smoke-free MUH policies play a key role in addressing individual- and population-level health outcomes. However, no published literature exists on the health, social, and cost impact of the adoption and implementation of MUH policies using rigorous research designs. Research using such methods is urgently needed to provide evidence-based information about effective MUH policies and practices. Educational Experience: The overarching goal of the panel discussion is to provide easily understandable and practical information that is directly applicable to the participants’ MUH policy work in tobacco control. To achieve these aims, panelists will describe CDC's national MUH strategy as well as those of California and Los Angeles County. The panelists will also describe the first study of its kind, a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group study, which will be used to evaluate the health, social, and cost impact of the adoption and implementation of MUH policies in cities within Los Angeles County. Benefits: Participants will benefit from a discussion of national, state, and local MUH policy strategies. Participants will also benefit from the description of an innovative MUH policy impact study that may lead to evidence-based replicable, effective MUH policies and practices for jurisdictions throughout the nation.