Policy makers' perspectives on tobacco control advocates' roles in regulation development

Objective-To identify, from policy makers' perspectives, strategies that en hance tobacco control advocates' effectiveness in the regulatory arena. Design-Key informant interview component of a comparative case study of reg ulatory agencies in the USA. Subjects-Policy makers involved in the development of four regulatory tobac co control policies (three state and one federal). Methods-Interviews of policy makers, field notes, and deliberation minutes were coded inductively. Results-Policy makers considered both written commentary and public testimo ny when developing tobacco control regulations. They triaged written commen tary based upon whether the document was from a peer reviewed journal, a su mmary of research evidence, or from a source considered credible. They cope d with in-person testimony by avoiding being diverted from the scientific e vidence, and by assessing the presenters' credibility. Policy makers sugges ted that tobacco control advocates should: present science in a format that is well organised and easily absorbed; engage scientific experts to partic ipate in the regulatory process; and lobby to support the tobacco control e fforts of the regulatory agency. Conclusions-There is an important role for tobacco control advocates in the policy development process in regulatory agencies.