Evaluating Comprehensive State Tobacco Prevention and Control Programs Using an Outcome Indicator Framework.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Program Evaluation

Background:

• Tobacco use is a leading preventable cause of death and disease in the U.S.
• State-level tobacco prevention and control programs (TCPs) implement best practices to reduce tobacco use and healthcare costs.
• Effective program evaluation is crucial for TCPs to achieve and sustain their goals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and describe the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office on Smoking and Health outcome indicator framework.
• To guide tobacco prevention and control programs (TCPs) and community organizations in conducting theory-driven evaluations.
• To illustrate the framework's utility at the national level for unifying efforts and expanding the evidence base.

Main Methods:

• Development of a comprehensive outcome indicator framework by the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health.
• Inclusion of a high-level logic model within the framework.
• Identification of evidence-based outcome indicators for key tobacco prevention and control goal areas.

Main Results:

• The framework provides a structured approach for TCPs to plan and implement evaluations.
• It facilitates the assessment of program effectiveness and impact on tobacco use.
• The framework supports national-level coordination and the identification of best practices.

Conclusions:

• The outcome indicator framework is a valuable tool for enhancing the evaluation capacity of TCPs.
• Its application can lead to more effective tobacco prevention and control strategies.
• The framework contributes to a stronger public health evidence base for tobacco control.