Evaluation & Surveillance

Coordinator: Joyce Morris, PhD
Phone: (405) 271-3619
Email: JoyceMo@health.ok.gov

The Evaluation and Surveillance component of the Tobacco Use Prevention Service tracks statewide progress towards goals and monitors the activities of programs.

A wide range of short-term, intermediate and long-term indicators are documented, including changes in knowledge, attitudes, policies, and behaviors, as well as tobacco-related health status and costs.

Key measures include:

• Changes in tobacco use among youth and adults
  
• Quitting behavior among adult smokers
  
• Adolescent attitudes about tobacco
  
• Tobacco-related policy change

A comprehensive evaluation plan incorporates both quantitative and qualitative data relating to all program components. For more information contact Joyce Morris, Evaluation and Surveillance Coordinator

Why Evaluate?

• Monitor progress toward the program's goals
  
• Learn how to improve the program
  
• Demonstrate program effectiveness
  
• Ensure resources are not wasted on ineffective programs
  
• Document to program funders that their money is well spent

 

Key Data Collected by the Tobacco Use Prevention Service

Program Monitoring Reports: Contractors submit monthly activity reports. These reports are reviewed monthly by program staff. Evaluations of the programs are conducted yearly through contracts with the University of Oklahoma College of Public Health and the Oklahoma State University College of Business.

Adult Tobacco Survey: A 10-20 minute telephone survey of a random sample of Oklahoma residents conducted every two years. In the spring of 2002, 1,064 Oklahoma residents in 72 counties were interviewed.

Oklahoma Youth Tobacco Survey: School-based survey administered to a random sample of 6th-12th graders statewide every two years. In 2002 students in 100 schools in 42 counties completed the statewide survey.
Health Plan Survey: Annually health plans are interviewed to determine what cessation services are covered by their plans.

Key Data Collected by Other Departments and Agencies

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System: A year-round random telephone survey of adults age 18 and over in Oklahoma. Tobacco is one of the risk behaviors which are monitored by this survey.
Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS): a population-based survey of Oklahoma women who have recently had a live birth. It asks about mother's smoking status.

The Oklahoma Toddler Survey (TOTS): a 2 year follow-up survey sent to women who participated in PRAMS to assess the health of their child. This survey includes an assessment of the child's exposure to secondhand smoke.

Vital Statistics: Birth records provide information on mother's smoking status and low-birthweight births. Causes of death are obtained from death certificates.
Oklahoma Tax Commission: The Tax Commission provides us with data on tax per-capita sales of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Current resources limit data collection and analysis. Increased resources would allow data to be collected at the county level, that would allow for analysis that would better characterize the disparate groups in the state. The greater detail provided would allow better planning by state and local agencies.

Reports based on these data sources are available under Facts & Data.  Additional data is available on request.

Updated 3/26/08