19.03.2013 Views

PoPulationand Public HealtH etHics

PoPulationand Public HealtH etHics

PoPulationand Public HealtH etHics

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

use oF eviDence For<br />

PrograM Decision Making<br />

Resources for tobacco cessation<br />

Donna Ciliska, Ph.D.<br />

National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools,<br />

McMaster University<br />

Hamilton ON<br />

CIlIska@MCMasteR.Ca<br />

Introduction<br />

Tobacco use is one of the strongest risk factors associated with morbidity and<br />

premature mortality. In Canada, use has declined to 17.5% of the population,<br />

but the decline appears to be levelling off. 1 Many population- and individualbased<br />

prevention and cessation strategies are implemented by public health<br />

workers. 2 “Quit and Win” programs are one example, involving a partnership<br />

between the Canadian Cancer Society and local public health/regional<br />

health authorities. A media campaign, “Quit and Win,” encourages smokers<br />

to sign up and commit to quitting smoking for a month. Names are entered<br />

in a draw for various prizes in each participating region. In some provinces,<br />

the program has been “encouraged” or even mandated as an intervention by<br />

the provincial ministry.<br />

Research, even if it is of very high quality, does not solely drive decision<br />

making in public health; several other factors have to be considered, such as<br />

local burden of illness, community preferences, political will and available<br />

skills and resources. 3 But sometimes, programs carry on despite evidence<br />

that they may not be effective for your population, the best use of resources<br />

133<br />

Megan Ward and Sheila Datta<br />

Region of Peel, <strong>Public</strong> Health<br />

Mississauga ON

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!