Testing Policy Evaluation Methods for Smoke-free Outdoor Area Policies
| Author | George Thomson,Richard Edwards,Leanne Toledo Cortés |
| DOI | 10.1177/1035719X1401400105 |
| Published date | 01 September 2014 |
| Date | 01 September 2014 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
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Toledo Cortés, Thomson and Edwards—Testing policy evaluation methods for smoke-free outdoor area policies
REFEREED ARTICLE Evaluation Journal of Australasia Vol 14 | No 1 | 2014 | pp. 35–42
LEANNE TOLEDO CORTÉS | GEORGE THOMSON | RICHARD EDWARDS
Testing policy evaluation methods for
smoke-free outdoor area policies
We aimed to test evaluation methods for smoke-free outdoor area policies using a long-term
evaluation of a smoke-free parks and playgrounds policy as a case study. We documented the
results and an appraisal of a multifaceted evaluation (playground and sports eld user surveys,
observations, butt collections and key stakeholder in-depth interviews) of a New Zealand local
council’s smoke-free policy in 2011. We also drew upon previous evaluations completed before
(2008) and immediately after (2009) the implementation of the policy.
Butt collection was a particularly ecient method of data collection due to the in-eld data
time (ve hours) compared with observations (31 hours) or surveys (46 hours). Surveys and key
stakeholder interviews yielded important information to inform eective recommendations to
best promote the policy. We ensured eective replicable and accurate data could be collected
by training and supervising volunteers for data collection, and documenting all methods. Each
method we tested helped us to evaluate the impact of the policy, but not all methods were
resource ecient.
Introduction
Smoke-free outdoor area policies are a growing area of
tobacco control work with these policies implemented
in Australia, Canada, USA and Japan (Americans for
Nonsmokers’ Rights 2014; Canadian Cancer Society 2010;
Department of Health and Human Services—Tasmania
2012; NSW Government 2013; Ueda et al. 2011). In New
Zealand, almost half of all city and district councils
(local authorities) implemented educative smoke-free
playground and sports field policies to varying degrees
between 2005 and 2010 (Cancer Society of New Zealand
2010). Educative policies rely on media coverage, signage
and public support to inform the community and promote
compliance, rather than legal enforcement.
Evidence indicates that successful tobacco control
policies are supported by evaluation and surveillance
(World Health Organization 2004). Evaluation data can
help to substantiate arguments for current and additional
smoke-free park policies and guide best practice in
their implementation (Halkett & Thomson 2010).
The majority of published smoke-free outdoor area
evaluations have included observations of smoking, butt
collections, surveys and/or interviews with stakeholders.
These evaluations have been carried out in a variety
of locations, including stadiums, outdoor areas near
doorways, hospitals, sports facilities, outside residential
buildings, parks, streets and university campuses (Patel,
Thomson & Wilson 2013; Thomson et al. 2013).
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