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Studies from M.V. Modayil et al in the area of agriculture and tobacco research described.(Report) - Agriculture Week

'We conducted this study to determine key community-level factors associated with higher tobacco control programme performance. A combination of surveys, administrative and fiscal data were collected to measure local county-level health department performance over a 7-year period,' researchers in the United States report.

'Longitudinal analyses were performed using generalised estimating equations to examine whether counties that exerted higher effort were successful in creating more tobacco retail licensing (TRL) and secondhand smoke policies. Several social, political and contextual factors were examined as confounders. Local county health departments (CHDs) that demonstrated high effort on their work plans increased the proportion of residents covered by TRL policies (7.2%; 95% CI - 1.7 to 16.1%) compared to CHDs with lower levels of effort. Having legislators who voted in favour of tobacco control bills was found to significantly increase the passage of local TRL policies. CHDs demonstrating higher efforts also increased the proportion of residents covered by secondhand smoke policies (9.2%; 95% CI - 3.5 to 21.9%). There was strong evidence that higher county-level efforts predicted an increasing number of local tobacco control policies,' wrote M.V. Modayil and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: 'Evaluations using integrated designs are recommended as effective strategies to provide a more accurate assessment of how well community-level interventions catalyse community-wide change.'

Modayil and colleagues published their study in Tobacco Control (An evaluation of the California community intervention. Tobacco Control, 2010;19(Suppl. 1):I30-I36).

For additional information, contact M.V. Modayil, California Dept. of Public Health, California Tobacco Control Program, MS 7206, POB 997377, Sacramento, CA 95899, USA.

Publisher contact information for the journal Tobacco Control is: B M J Publishing Group, British Med Association House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England.

Keywords: City:Sacramento, State:CA, Country:United States, Agriculture and Tobacco Research

This article was prepared by Agriculture Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Agriculture Week via VerticalNews.com.