Using Key Outcome Indicators to Evaluate Tobacco Control Impact

Audience: State tobacco control program surveillance and evaluation staff

Key Points: The decade between the signing of the Master Settlement Agreement in 1998 and passage of the Family Smoking and Tobacco Prevention Control Act in 2009 has been marked by dramatic shifts in tobacco initiation and use. Although the rate of decline in tobacco use has slowed in recent years, changes in the ability of both federal and state governments to regulate tobacco provide new opportunities for tobacco control action.

CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) has applied an outcome indicator framework released in Key Outcome Indicators for Evaluating Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs to (a) measure and track the status of comprehensive tobacco control efforts across the U.S.; (b) enhance tobacco control surveillance; and (c) advance both program and evaluation practice.

Educational Experience: This panel presentation will summarize 10 years of national data measuring key outcomes related to preventing tobacco initiation and use, and demonstrate how OSH has applied outcome indicators to shape program and evaluation practice.  Additionally, panelists will describe recent updates to the key outcome indicators that are responsive to new and emerging tobacco control opportunities afforded by the current tobacco control context.

Benefits: The interactive session will provide state tobacco control program surveillance and evaluation staff with information to better understand:

• National outcome data on tobacco initiation over the past decade;
• Use of key outcome indicators to shape national tobacco control policy and evaluation practice; and
• Updated outcome indicators intended to help advance tobacco control program planning and evaluation relevant to preventing initiation.