Establishing an Internet-based tobacco-control network for Czech health professionals

This article describes the background, implementation, and evaluation of an Internet-based health promotion network in the Czech Republic. The network was intended to build the indigenous capacity of Czech health professionals in the use of the Internet for tobacco control to organize and coordinate public health campaigns, heighten public awareness, and catalyze policy change. Multiple methods of evaluation included three needs assessment surveys, three training workshop evaluations, an Internet survey of participating member organizations, and quarterly reports from the project partners. The evaluation showed that an Internet-based network was established with 40 health professionals from 30 organizations. A grassroots heart disease prevention and tobacco-control advocacy group was formed. Network participants utilized and continue to utilize the Internet to communicate, research, coordinate outreach, and advocate tobacco-control issues.