Evaluation design:

1. An Evaluation of Outdoor Smoking Policy in a Northeastern CommunitySrijana M. Bajracharya, Ph.D., MCHESAmerican Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) Annual Convention, Boston, MA  March 15, 2012 Smoking policy Outdoor Smoking Policy Integrating service-learning Project • The survey of the Business Community (N=71): • I think the ordinance for outdoor tobacco smoking should be: The New York State Clean Indoor Air Act (Public Health Law Section 1399-0).. went into effect on July 24, 2003, “Tobacco Free Zones” (Tompkins County Health Department, 2006). • The project was integrated in an undergraduate class for the observational and survey evaluation studies. • HLTH 33300, Development & Evaluation of Health Promotion Programs • Graduate Research Assistant work • Community partners: • The City Council • The County Health Department • The City recently passed a law that deals with outdoor smoking (City of Ithaca, 2010) • The purpose of this law was to reduce the proximate exposure of the public, especially children, to the hazards and annoyance of secondhand tobacco smoke. Methods of Evaluation Evaluation Goals: Preliminary Results: Compliance Summary: To strategically develop a short-term and long-term process for evaluating outdoor smoking law and execute this evaluation plan annually by integrating a service-learning project into the course, HLTH 33300 - Development and Evaluation of Health Programs. • Integration of service-learning project was productive and efficient way of student learning. The preliminary results showed that most community members: • complied with the ordinance accept of a few; • heard of the policy but are unsure of the details; • have a positive perception regarding the policy and its effects; • either want to continue or expand the policy. • Coordinate with the community partner, TCHD’s personnel, and determine an evaluation and a future needs assessment plan based on face-to-face meetings with them. • Use both quantitative and qualitative studies to ensure valid and reliable results. • Design service-learning projects and integrate research projects in the course Development and Evaluation of Health Programs (HLTH 33300-01) so that students from this class can learn the evaluation process by working on this project at different levels at different times. • Submit an application to the IC Board of Human Subjects Research. • Develop instruments and run a pilot study using a similar target population. • Finally, establish both a short-term and long-term evaluation design so that this activity can be done annually as an ongoing process for long-term evaluation. • Observational Study • 14 total hours of observation • Estimated 1, 310 people in total • About 10 people were found smoking during one observation • Most people were smoking by bus station and bars • Total of about 118 cigarette butts • 7 stores have the “T-Free Zone” sign on their door • .04 % (56) were observed smoking in banned areas Evaluation design: Public Support: The survey of the community study: 1. I think the ordinance for outdoor tobacco smoking should be: Recommendations: • The outdoor smoking ban area should have larger and more obvious signs for people to see. • Annual policy evaluation should be continued. • There was a small minority who disliked the policy and did not want too much regulation. • The City staff and local police should strictly enforce the policy.