OTRU continues to generate new knowledge to inform cessation policies and practices through the Research on Advancing Cessation Treatment (REACT) study. This newsletter highlights the findings from the ongoing knowledge synthesis, baseline survey for

Includes Full Report, Executive Summary, chapter downloads and mini infographic posters Key Findings: In 2015, 20% of Ontarians aged 12 years or older used tobacco products in the past 30 days including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco an

This report updates the evidence statements from The Smoke-Free Ontario Scientific Advisory Committee report, Evidence to Guide Action: Comprehensive Tobacco Control in Ontario (2016) (SFO-SAC 2016), with the most recent evidence from systematic lite

Tobacco cessation interventions by healthcare providers have been shown to significantly increase cessation rates. Three surveys were conducted in 2013, 2015 and 2017 to explore the state of tobacco cessation practices and services in the Central Wes

This brief Project News update on health insurance coverage and smoking cessation treatments presents the effectiveness of insurance coverage, factors affecting the adoption of insurance coverage by employers, and insurance coverage for smoking cessa

Despite declining prevalence of smoking in Ontario in the last few decades, rates of smoking cessation have not increased significantly in the last few years. OTRU will conduct Research on Advancing Cessation Treatment (REACT) to study the urgent nee

Key Findings: Past 30-day use of various tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff or chewing tobacco, but not including waterpipe and electronic cigarettes) reported by Ontarians aged 12 years or older was 20% – statistically lowe

Since 2015, OTRU has been conducting an ongoing formative evaluation to assess the implementation and impact of the outdoor Smoke-Free Ontario Act smoking regulations. This report presents findings from data collected in 2016-2017 and includes a summ

This Update provides a summary of the tobacco use cessation services provided at the local-level by all 36 Public Health Units across Ontario for the 2016 calendar year.

Since 2013, OTRU has provided local program planning and evaluation services for Smoke-Free Ontario partners though the Knowledge and Evaluation Support initiative. The services provided, challenges and outcomes are summarized. This centralized servi

OTRU has begun a new project to assess the implementation and impact of the new tobacco and e-cigarette policy measures being implemented in Ontario. This newsletter provides an overview of the new measures and outlines evaluation activities happenin

With limited population-level research, myths about smoking cessation persist. Research from the Ontario Tobacco Survey (OTS) has improved our understanding of smoking cessation in the general population. Key facts and findings are summarized, includ

In collaboration with public health units, OTRU conducted an evaluation of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act outdoor smoking regulations that banned smoking on restaurant/bar patios, playgrounds and sports fields effective January 1, 2015. Findings suggest

Key Findings: Past 30-day use of various tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff or chewing tobacco, but not including waterpipe and electronic cigarettes) reported by Ontarians aged 12 years or older was 20% – statistically lowe

This newsletter provides a snapshot of two current projects supported by OTRU’s Knowledge and Evaluation Support Team: an evaluation of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act Outdoor Smoking Restrictions using data from four case study locations across Ontario,

The Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Monitoring Report finds tobacco use among grade 12 youth remains steady at 6%, but smoking use among young adults remains high. These are some of the findings highlighted in this year’s Strategy Monitoring Report. This

OTRU’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Monitoring Report Executive Summary provides a synopsis of the report’s comprehensive review of the progress of the province’s tobacco control initiatives. Related publication: 2014 Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Monit

A risk categorization model for youth access enforcement was piloted in three public health units over a 12-month period in 2011-2012. Pilot findings suggest that 1) increasing the number of visits to moderate- and high-risk vendors can increase comp

The Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy is a comprehensive tobacco control program involving a broad coalition of partners including provincial and local governments, boards of health, voluntary health organizations, hospitals, and universities. This report

OTRU’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Monitoring Report Executive Summary provides a synopsis of the report’s comprehensive review of the progress of the province’s tobacco control initiatives. Related publications: 2013 Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Moni

This formative evaluation study examines the process of implementation of the Youth Engagement Initiative as outlined in the 2010 scopes of service, and identifies facilitators and challenges to this process to inform Initiative improvement and advan

Partners of the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy have made solid progress in implementing a comprehensive approach to achieving vital tobacco control goals. This report presents evaluative information about the activities and results of the Smoke-Free Ont

OTRU’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Evaluation Report Executive Summary provides a synposis of the report’s comprehensive review of the progress of the province’s tobacco control initiatives. Related publications: Tobacco Taxes – 2012 Monitoring Updat

The main goal of this evaluation was to explore the implementation and impact of TFSR policies within the sport of hockey in four Ontario public health units (PHUs) and examine the barriers and facilitators in TFSR policy implementation. This report

This newsletter reports on key findings from a formative evaluation of how the Initiative has been implemented in public health units across the province. Related publications: Evaluation of a Youth Engagement Initiative to Promote Healthy Choices (V

OTRU’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Evaluation Report provides a comprehensive review of the progress of the province’s tobacco control initiatives. Ontario’s investment in the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy is bearing fruit. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act p

OTRU’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Evaluation Report Executive Summary provides a synposis of the report’s comprehensive review of the progress of the province’s tobacco control initiatives. Related publications: Prohibition of Tobacco Sales In Speci

This evaluation is an ongoing multiyear effort that supports learning throughout the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport youth engagement initiative from its initiation, through initial roll-out and full implementation. Related publication

The Smoke-Free Ontario-Scientific Advisory Committee (SFO-SAC) report, Evidence to Guide Action: Comprehensive Tobacco Control in Ontario, outlines exciting new evidence-informed approaches to moving tobacco control to the next critical stage. Includ

This is the report of the Tobacco Strategy Advisory Group, established by the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport in March 2009, to inform the Ontario Government’s New Directions in Tobacco Control 5-year plan. The recommendations for a comprehens

This OTRU Special Report provides evidence to inform the development of Ontario’s smoking cessation strategy. The report states the general case for smoking cessation, including the benefits of a comprehensive cessation system; presents a segmentatio

This is the fourth in a series of reports about the formative evaluation of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA). The design of the formative evaluation of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act comprises four components that include a province-wide compliance surv

Abstract Background: The Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) came into effect in May 2006 and included restrictions to outdoor hospitality areas by only permitting smoking on a patio if the area had no roof. Objectives: (1) To assess the impact of the SFOA

Abstract Many studies have evaluated the impact of indoor smoking bans on secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. No studies have assessed the impact of a smoking ban on SHS in enclosed areas outside separately ventilated, designated smoking rooms (DSRs). T

Indicators of Smoke-Free Ontario Progress is the second report in the Monitoring and Evaluation Series. The main sections in this second report are organized according to Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy goals of prevention, cessation, and protection. The

Abstract A restriction banning the sale of tobacco products to underage youths (youth access) is a central component of tobacco control programmes that aim to minimise the use of tobacco products by youths. This restriction has been in place in numer

There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition to causing heart disease, cancer and premature death in nonsmoking adults, secondhand premature death in nonsmoking adults, secondhand smoke also causes sudden infant death syndrome,

Abstract Objective: On May 31, 2006, Ontario joined a small group of international jurisdictions to implement legislative restrictions on tobacco point of sale promotions. This study compares the presence of point of sale promotions in the retail tob

Drawing upon material in the first two reports in this series, the third report assesses the progress made toward the overall goals of the strategy and discusses the implications of findings for future advancements in tobacco control. Related publica

Indicators of Smoke-Free Ontario Progress is the second report in the Monitoring and Evaluation Series. The main sections in this second report are organized according to Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy goals of prevention, cessation, and protection. The