The American stop smoking intervention study - Conceptual framework and evaluation design

Reducing tobacco use, especially cigarette smoking, is a public health prio rity. The American Stop Smoking Intervention Study (ASSIST) was initiated i n 1991 to prevent and reduce tobacco use primarily through policy-based app roaches to alter the social-political environment. This article describes t he conceptual design, research framework, evaluation components, and analyt ic strategies that are guiding the evaluation of this demonstration researc h endeavor. The ASSIST evaluation is a unique analysis of the complex relat ionships between the social context, public health activity at the stale le vel, tobacco use, and individual behavior. The measures of tobacco control activity developed for this evaluation may be useful in ongoing national ca ncer control surveillance efforts, and the lessons learned will enhance the development of tobacco control programs.