I'd like to respond to Alan's concerns about the perceived overlap between
different smoking surveys (copied below this message), of which he
correctly points out there are several.

One of the unique features of our study is the combined use of both
quantitative and qualitative methods. Yes, the survey itself is fairly
broad-ranging, but it incorporates questions on smoking and tobacco control
in a depth unacheivable in other studies, including additional questions on
interactions b/n smokers and non-smokers in public places,etc.  In the
qualitative component, we conducted 5 focus groups and 20 interviews with
current and former smokers, and those who have never smoked, concentrating
in particular on:

  * perceived changes in social acceptability of smoking
  * where and when they're most comfortable smoking
    (to explore the changing social geography of smoking)
  * what they've done in cases where they were bothered by ETS
    in a public place (and why) (or, in the case of smokers,
    how they've been approached by others and how they reacted)
  * whether they feel smokers and non-smokers as a group are
    considerate of the needs/wishes of others, and examples of
    being considerate or inconsiderate, what being considerate
    means
  * where and how they feel smoking should be regulated, and
    at what point is it "going too far" to protect non-smokers
    from ETS, to encourage smokers to quit, to prevent kids from
    starting, etc
  * how they feel about other aspects of tobacco control
  * how they feel about the proposed ban on smoking in Toronto
  * if they could send one message to legislators re tobacco
    control, what would it be?

I think you'll agree that tobacco control issues haven't been tackled from
this angle or methodology in the past, and we hope to contribute to the
field's understanding of the lived experience of tobacco control from a lay
perspective.

Hope this clarifies our project a bit. Thanks for sharing your concerns.

blake
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Alan wrote:

Date:    Fri, 27 Sep 1996 09:49:12 -0700
From:    Alan <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Grant discussion and request

In regard to a posting for a research assistant to work on an NHRDP
grant, I'm a tad disturbed. MANY municipalities have been engaged in
surveying residents about behaviour, attitudes, and knowledge about
smoking and tobacco controls. I'm concerned about so much overlap
occurring everywhere, and to top the information gathering it appears a
1996 OHS will be conducted. I can only hope that the NHRDP grant will
tackle different issues/questions - sorry if I'm being overly cynical.

On a different topic, I have a friend whose mother has been diagnosed
with bone marrow cancer. The family is busily trying to gather
information through the internet - I think we discussed this aspect of
health information a few weeks ago. Could anyone offer a beneficial info
source through the WWW and any listserves? Help would be appreciated.

Regards,

Alan McFarlane
Tobacco Use Prevention Promoter
Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Public Health Department
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