Supporting tobacco control: stimulating local newspaper coverage with a technical assistance website for local coalitions.

A large and growing literature confirms that well-designed web-based programs can be effective in preventing or treating several chronic diseases. This study examined how the Internet can deliver information and train community activists and specifically tested the effects of web-based technical assistance on local tobacco control coalitions' efforts to use media advocacy to advance their agendas. The authors compared a highly interactive, Enhanced website (intervention) to a noninteractive, Basic text-based website (comparison) in Colorado communities.

Continued benefits of a technical assistance web site to local tobacco control coalitions during a state budget shortfall.

Context: A state budget shortfall defunded 10 local tobacco coalitions during a randomized trial but defunded coalitions continued to have access to 2 technical assistance Web sites.

Objective: To test the ability of Web-based technology to provide technical assistance to local tobacco control coalitions.

Design: Randomized 2-group trial with local tobacco control coalitions as the unit of randomization.

Economic impacts of the Pueblo Smoke-Free Air Act.

Background: On July 1, 2003, the city of Pueblo CO enacted a smokefree ordinance (Pueblo Smoke-Free Air Act [PSFAA]) that prohibited smoking in public places and workplaces, including taverns and restaurants. Opponents to this ordinance argued that it would have a negative impact on tavern and restaurant sales.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the PSFAA had a negative economic impact on tavern and restaurant sales tax revenues.

Predictors of colorectal screening in rural Colorado: testing to prevent colon cancer in the high plains research network.

Context: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, yet screening rates are well below target levels. Rural communities may face common and unique barriers to health care, particularly preventive health care.

Purpose: To establish baseline attitudinal, knowledge, belief, and behavior measures on colorectal cancer screening and to identify barriers to or predictors of colorectal cancer screening.

The effect of endorsement by local opinion leaders and testimonials from teachers on the dissemination of a web-based smoking prevention program.

The effect of endorsement by local opinion leaders and teacher testimonials on dissemination of a web-based program to prevent smoking was tested in a group-randomized 2 x 2 factorial post-test-only design with 394 junior and senior high schools. Schools were assigned to condition by region served by local tobacco control coalitions. Visits to the 'Consider This' (CT) website were recorded.

Predictors of support for environmental tobacco smoke bans in state government.

Background: Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a major threat to public health, associated with a number of serious diseases, and a leading cause of death. Previous research demonstrates that enactment of government policies mandating clean indoor air is effective in creating more smoke-free public places and decreasing the incidence of smoking. Both researchers and community activists have an interest in understanding the factors that predict support for the regulation of ETS.

Web-based technical assistance and training to promote community tobacco control policy change.

In 1998 the tobacco industry was released of claims that provided monetary relief for states. A significant expansion of tobacco control activity in many states created a need to develop local capacity. Technical assistance and training for new and experienced staff became a significant challenge for tobacco control leadership.