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
Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is a long standing public health issue. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act protects many Ontarians from exposure to SHS in enclosed public places and workplaces including restaurants and bars, casinos, in vehicles, and in t
This newsletter is the second of a series of four from OTRU’s Knowledge and Evaluation Support Team for 2014-2015. It outlines OTRU’s knowledge and evaluation support services for Ontario’s Public Health Units, Tobacco Control Area Networks, and othe
The Ontario SimSmoke model was developed using the SimSmoke tobacco control policy model. Using population, policy, and smoking data for Ontario, the model assesses the effect on premature deaths and smoking prevalence of tobacco control policies, in
The health risks of second hand smoke (SHS) are now well established; in many places, including the province of Ontario, most indoor public places such as workplaces, bars, and restaurants are covered under smoke-free ordinances. People in outdoor en
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,
Substantial government funding is necessary if tobacco control strategies are to be effective in reducing tobacco related illness and death. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2007) recommends sustained tobacco control funding
Comprehensive tobacco control includes age-related restrictions on access to tobacco products. These restrictions target young people who, as a group, are vulnerable to smoking initiation. This update reviews youth access provisions by provincial, te
Retail display refers to the visible presence of tobacco products and accessories at the point of sale. The tobacco industry uses powerwalls, countertop displays, signage and product accessories like brand-name lighters to communicate with customers.
Comprehensive tobacco control includes prohibition of tobacco sales in specific places in order to decrease the physical availability of tobacco products. A key aspect of availability is outlet density, meaning how many places sell tobacco per unit o
Taxation is a policy tool used to increase the retail price of tobacco products in order to decrease their economic accessibility. Surveys of Canadian adults show a positive relationship between higher cigarette price and the odds of being a nonsmoke
Most nonsmokers in Canada and the United States are protected from secondhand smoke exposure at work and in indoor public places, but many are still exposed to smoke entering their homes from neighbouring dwellings, shared indoor spaces, ventilation
Comprehensive tobacco control includes age-related restrictions on access to tobacco products. Youth access restrictions reduce the availability of tobacco to young people who, as a group, are known to be vulnerable to smoking initiation (Ahmad and B
Substantial and stable government funding is necessary if tobacco control strategies are to be effective in reducing tobacco-related illness and death. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007) recommends sustained tobacco control fu
Comprehensive tobacco control policy includes prohibition of tobacco sales in specific places in order to decrease physical availability. Physical availability can be measured in terms of outlet density, meaning how many places sell tobacco per unit
Retail display is the visible presence of tobacco products and accessories at the point of sale. The tobacco industry uses powerwalls, countertop displays, signage and brand-name accessories like lighters to communicate with current, former and poten
Nicotine addiction is considered a major impediment to quitting smoking. Some investigators believe that the proportion of heavily addicted (or “hardcore”) smokers in the population will increase as more smokers give up smoking. But are heavily addic
Tobacco control mass media campaigns are key elements of comprehensive tobacco control strategies. In Canada, mass media campaigns have been identified as important components of both the Federal Tobacco Control strategy and the Smoke-Free Ontario st
The retail point-of-sale environment provides important opportunities for tobacco industry communication with current, former, and potential smokers. Point-of-sale marketing is one of the few remaining communication vehicles available to the tobacco
Publications OTRU evidence-based publications serve a variety of information needs: OTRU Updates summarize highlights from recent research and evaluation findings Special Reports provide overviews and syntheses of research in special topic areas Stra
Abstract Introduction: An unintended consequence of indoor smoking restrictions is the relocation of smoking to building entrances, where non-smokers may be exposed to secondhand smoke, and smoke from outdoor areas may drift through entrances, exposi
Abstract Objective: To evaluate the impact of an indoor smoke-free bylaw in Toronto, Ontario, implemented June 2004. Methods: We used a pre-post comparison design to assess secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among 79 eligible bar workers in Toronto, Ont
Abstract Introduction: Phillip Morris International (PMI) is pushing hard to promote IQOS heat-not-burn cigarettes in Ontario, Canada. Canada regulates IQOS as a tobacco product so that the robust tobacco marketing ban creates challenges to its promo
OTS Technical Documentation The Ontario Tobacco Survey (OTS) was a provincial longitudinal survey of smokers and a cross-sectional survey of nonsmokers conducted between 2005 and 2011 with more than 7500 respondents. It was undertaken to evaluate and
Abstract This study assesses the impact of an academic detailing quitline promotional outreach program on integration of patient referrals to the quitline by fax in healthcare settings and quitline utilization in Ontario, Canada. The study employed a
This special report presents the findings from simulation models that assessed the impact of five potential Tobacco Endgame interventions aimed at reaching the target smoking prevalence goal of less than 5% by 2035. The interventions included: plain
Tobacco Endgame Canada needs to do better. Over the past several decades, we have seen progress through smoke-free public places, tax increases, public education campaigns and other measures contributing to a dramatic decline in smoking rates. Yet, a
With support from Health Canada, and in partnership with Physicians for Smoke Free Canada’s project “Addressing Knowledge Gaps Important to Tobacco Control”, OTRU has completed three reports about policy options for regulating vaping in Canada. Each
The e-cigarette policy environment in Canada is developing rapidly. With support from Health Canada, and in partnership with Physicians for Smoke Free Canada’s project “Addressing Knowledge Gaps Important to Tobacco Control”, the Ontario Tobacco Rese
Abstract Marginalized populations are being disproportionally affected by the current pandemic. Direct effects include higher infection rates with greater morbidity and mortality; indirect effects stem from the societal response to limit the spread o
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
Abstract Objectives: Current estimates indicate that cigarillo use has become commonplace among young adults in Canada despite the established risks to health. However, little else is known about patterns of cigarillo use in this subpopulation. The i
Abstract: Context: Selection of priority groups is important for health interventions. However, no quantitative method has been developed. Objectives: To develop a quantitative method to support the process of selecting priority groups for public hea
Abstract This article provides a case study of the development and implementation of an online performance monitoring system to support accountability and management of programs funded by a $ 60 million tobacco control strategy. System implementation
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
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.
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
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
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
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