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
A range of smoking cessation interventions are available to help Ontario smokers quit. This report identifies common intake and follow-up indicators and measures recommended for adult smoking cessation service providers in Ontario.
With the help of many of our Investigators and Affiliates across the province, our Principal Investigator team began work in the summer of 2005 on a research plan to identify tobacco control questions and issues of priority that can be addressed thro
This report considers evidence presented in more detail elsewhere, particularly in Nos. 2 and 3 of Volume 9 of OTRU’s annual Monitoring and Evaluation series. A section devoted to each objective uses key indicators to summarize the current status and
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
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,
Research shows there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Concentrations can be especially high in cars (Sendzik et al. 2008). In addition to causing heart disease, cancer and premature death in nonsmoking adults, secondhand smoke also c
This series summarizes findings from a pilot study to test a systematic approach to understanding what cessation services are and are not available at local levels and assess the feasibility of developing a comprehensive regional cessation system bas
This series summarizes findings from a pilot study to test a systematic approach to understanding what cessation services are and are not available at local levels and assess the feasibility of developing a comprehensive regional cessation system bas
This series summarizes findings from a pilot study to test a systematic approach to understanding what cessation services are and are not available at local levels and assess the feasibility of developing a comprehensive regional cessation system bas
This series summarizes findings from a pilot study to test a systematic approach to understanding what cessation services are and are not available at local levels and assess the feasibility of developing a comprehensive regional cessation system bas
In response to the demand for accountability and performance management information, OTRU is developing a performance reporting system. This Update describes the development of the Performance Indicators Monitoring system (PIMS). PIMS is designed for
This series summarizes findings from a pilot study to test a systematic approach to understanding what cessation services are and are not available at local levels and assess the feasibility of developing a comprehensive regional cessation system bas
The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit has launched a new provincial survey monitoring tobacco use and opinions about tobacco control to inform the progress of the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy. The Ontario Tobacco Survey is a major cross-sectional and pane
Significant developments took place in Ontario during 2002. Salient among these was the continued progress by local communities in passing and implementing smoke-free bylaws. An increasing number of Ontarians are now protected from the harmful effect
Abstract Challenges to evaluating comprehensive complex strategies revolve around addressing comprehensiveness, attribution, and complexity. The latter requires attention to synergies amongst interventions, feedback loops, and other forms of nonlinea
Abstract Background: Pharmacists can be effective in helping patients to quit smoking, and opportunities for such interaction have been facilitated by legislative change making nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) available without prescription in Cana
This report is a knowledge synthesis of what is known about the contraband tobacco market globally and the policies in place to help curb it. Given the many different forms of contraband and the ease with which the source can change in response to po
Current Abstracts March 2023 The following is a monthly list of selected journal articles and reports on tobacco topics. Please note that this list is not all-inclusive. We try to choose titles of interest to our tobacco control network, but we reali
Tobacco control mass media campaigns are a key element of comprehensive tobacco control strategies. Over the past decade, 94% of Ontario smokers were exposed to tobacco control mass media, general tobacco media stories, or pharmaceutical ads. Exposur
Abstract Background: As of 1 January 2017, the Canadian province of Ontario banned the distribution and sale of menthol tobacco products. There is limited knowledge about how tobacco companies will adapt their packaging in response to a menthol ban.
Tobacco Informatics Monitoring System (TIMS) Results at Your Fingertips! TIMS is an innovative web-based application designed to provide easy access to reliable, up-to-date data on key tobacco control indicators. Search hundreds of key indicators org
Resources OTRU’s resources include a variety of materials to help serve the needs of the tobacco control community. OTRU’s data tools help researchers, students, and the tobacco control community to find tobacco-related indicators, sources of s
The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit recently updated two tobacco database resources for the design and conduct of studies related to tobacco and tobacco control. The Directory of Public Use Data on Tobacco Use in Canada is designed to help researchers
The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit recently updated two tobacco database resources for the design and conduct of studies related to tobacco and tobacco control. The Directory of Public Use Data on Tobacco Use in Canada is designed to help researchers
Abstract: Objectives: The number of quit attempts it takes a smoker to quit successfully is a commonly reported figure among smoking cessation programmes, but previous estimates have been based on lifetime recall in cross-sectional samples of success
Abstract: Background: There are a limited number of studies that have examined the real-world effectiveness of smoking cessation aids and relapse longitudinally in population-representative samples. This study examines the association between use of
About OTRU The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit was established in 1993 as the research and evaluation component of the Ontario Tobacco Strategy with initial funding from the province and in-kind contributions from the academic community. Over two and a
This newsletter presents the evidence of smoking cessation interventions in Indigenous populations, and smoking cessation programs targeting indigenous populations in Ontario. There is evidence that cessation interventions can be effective in Indigen
In Canada, tobacco control practices, programs and policies occur at the national, provincial and local levels. While federal, provincial and territorial governments play an important role through the provision of strategic direction and funding and
This is the first of two papers designed to provoke discussion on the creation of a national strategy to help current tobacco users. It begins with sections designed to show why a national strategy is warranted. This is followed by a brief profile of
Abstract Introduction: As smoking prevalence declines, some suggest that so-called “hardcore” smokers will come to represent a growing and irreducible proportion of current smokers (“hardening hypothesis”). Different definitions of a “hardcore” smoke
Topics The work of the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit includes programs in tobacco control research, research capacity building, comprehensive tobacco control evaluation and monitoring, and knowledge transfer and exchange. Our research and evaluation
February 2020 The following is a monthly list of selected journal articles and reports on tobacco topics. Please note that this list is not all-inclusive. We try to choose titles of interest to our tobacco control network, but we realize that there a
May 2018 Current Abstracts The following is a monthly list of selected journal articles and reports on tobacco topics. Please note that this list is not all-inclusive. We try to choose titles of interest to our tobacco control network, but we realize
October 2017 Current Abstracts The following is a monthly list of selected journal articles and reports on tobacco topics. Please note that this list is not all-inclusive. We try to choose titles of interest to our tobacco control network, but we rea
August 2017 Current Abstracts The following is a monthly list of selected journal articles and reports on tobacco topics. Please note that this list is not all-inclusive. We try to choose titles of interest to our tobacco control network, but we real
This update provides an overview of OTRU’s Knowledge and Evaluation Support initiative for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. We highlight two projects supported by this initiative: Evaluation of the Amended Toronto Smoke-free Bylaws, and the Love My Life Ca
OTRU has been working with Smoke-Free Ontario partners to evaluate workplace-based smoking cessation demonstration projects in various public health units across Ontario. This newsletter reports on evaluation findings relevant to the construction sec
OTRU has been working with Smoke-Free Ontario partners to evaluate workplace-based smoking cessation demonstration projects in various public health units across Ontario. The workplace demonstration projects aimed to reduce present levels of smoking