Monitoring the tobacco use epidemic V: The environment: factors that influence tobacco use.
OBJECTIVE
This environment paper (V of V) summarizes important surveillance and evaluation systems that monitor influences on tobacco use such as smoke-free laws and other legislation, excise taxes, mass media, and a broad range of tobacco control activities, discusses their strengths and weaknesses, and makes recommendations for enhancement.


METHODS
We summarize and expand on the recommendations from the Environment Working Group of the National Tobacco Monitoring, Research, and Evaluation Workshop prioritized surveillance needs. This group rank-ordered surveillance needs various environmental influences, considering both the perceived importance of each environmental influence and the adequacy of the current surveillance systems. Based on this ranking and subsequent discussion, the group identified key priorities for enhancement.


RESULTS
The group arrived at two key priorities: (1) develop and implement a national system for local tobacco control ordinance surveillance, and (2) develop and implement a comprehensive program monitoring system that is used by all states and supported by all funding agencies. Other environmental influences recommended for priority monitoring include cigarette prices and tobacco countermarketing.


CONCLUSIONS
Systematic surveillance and monitoring of key program inputs and outputs and environmental influences is central to understand the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of tobacco control efforts.
Farrelly
Matthew C
MC
Public Health and Environment Division and the RTI-UNC Center of Excellence for Health Promotion Economics, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. mcf@rti.org
D000329:Advertising; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012931:Social Environment; D013660:Taxes / Q000191:economics; D019460:Tobacco Industry; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution