Opinion leaders' support for tobacco control policies and participation in tobacco control activities.
OBJECTIVE
Because opinion leaders hold positions from which they may influence tobacco control efforts, this study examined their support for tobacco control policies and their involvement in tobacco control activities.


METHODS
A telephone survey was administered to 712 California opinion leaders who were randomly selected from constructed lists representing 8 types of organizations: health, education, law enforcement, media, government, business, ethnic, and youth. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to identify predictors of support for and participation in tobacco control activities.


RESULTS
Approximately one half to two thirds of opinion leaders supported the tobacco control policies queried; 60% reported involvement in tobacco control-related activities during the previous year. Organizational affiliation was a strong predictor of support and involvement, with leaders from health and educational organizations reporting the highest levels and business and media leaders reporting the lowest. Tobacco issue involvement variables (e.g., having a friend or family member with a smoking-related illness) were significantly associated with the outcomes, while sociodemographics, for the most part, were not.


CONCLUSIONS
Study results can be used to mobilize opinion leaders' support for tobacco control more effectively.
Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. khoward@scrdp.stanford.edu
K A
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Howard
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Rogers
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Howard-Pitney
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Flora
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Norman
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Ribisl
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007857:Leadership; D009935:Organizational Affiliation; D011639:Public Opinion; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012944:Social Support