Funding
The Policy Center for Tobacco and the Environment is a community-academic partnership dedicated to researching community-identified concerns focused on tobacco and the environment, both indoors and outdoors. The goal of this research is to inform policymakers in an effort to protect Californians from the toxic legacy of commercial tobacco use where the grow up, live, work, and play. The goal of the Pilot Research Awards is to expand and promote the research on policy priorities related to tobacco and the environment. Successful pilot studies should inform the development of larger, policy-oriented research proposals that can compete successfully for TRDRP or other research funding.
The call for 2025-2026 proposals will be available in October 2024.
2024 Pilot Research Award
Do Policy Roundtables Promote Thirdhand Smoke Initiatives in California Tobacco Control Efforts: An Evaluation
Nafisa Ferdous, PhD
San Diego State University
In the domain of tobacco control, thirdhand smoke (THS) poses a persistent challenge, as its toxic residues linger long after smoking ceases, unlike secondhand smoke (SHS). Despite the effectiveness of smoke-free policies in reducing SHS exposure and healthcare costs in California (CA), THS remains overlooked, with policies failing to address its economic burden and health risks. To comprehensively address THS, the California Tobacco Prevention Program (CTPP) collaborates with local lead agencies and competitive grantees, aiming to tackle tobacco-related challenges. The Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center hosts bi-monthly virtual policy roundtable discussions, bringing together CTPP tobacco control advocates to brainstorm effective strategies for integrating THS information into policy discussions. These discussions cover diverse policy areas, with an aim to empower advocates to advance tobacco control initiatives at local level. Evaluating the influence of these roundtables on CTPP-funded projects is crucial. This qualitative investigation aims to evaluate the extent to which the resources provided promote/influence THS inclusion in scope of work across CTPP-funded projects and in policy conversations, while identifying facilitators and barriers in advancing THS initiatives. Through semi-structured interviews and content analysis of project websites, study data will reveal insights into the effectiveness of THS policy roundtables and areas for improvement. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, these roundtables can play a vital role in advancing THS awareness and initiatives statewide, which highlights the importance of evaluating their influence on THS efforts across CA’s tobacco control landscape.