What are the effects of Tobacco policies on vulnerable populations? A better practice review

Lorraine Greaves, Joy Johnson, Joan Bottorff, Susan Kirkland, Natasha Jategaonkar, Melissa McGowan, Lupin Battersby

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: While comprehensive tobacco policies have reduced the prevalence of smoking in Canada, some groups remain vulnerable to tobacco use and display high rates of smoking. This article reviews three types of tobacco policies - tax and price, smoking location restrictions and sales restrictions - and examines the consequences for Aboriginal people, youth and low-income people. Methods: A better practices review model was used to assess the strength of studies published between 1990 and 2004 that examined the effects of these tobacco policies on the three vulnerable populations of interest. A total of 72 studies were assessed and 42 judged medium or high strength. A gender-based and diversity analysis was applied to assess the differential impacts on females and males and/or diverse characteristics within these populations. Intended and unintended consequences were examined. Findings: Few studies assessed the potential or differential effects of tobacco policies on the three selected populations. In these, it was difficult to disentangle the effects of each policy in a comprehensive tobacco control environment, and there is need for improved indicators and greater attention to sex and gender analysis. Conclusions: Research is required to measure the intended and unintended impacts of tobacco policies on populations vulnerable to tobacco use. There are problems in assessing these studies that could be resolved with more precise indicator development. An equity-based framework for assessing the effects of tobacco policies is needed that is conceptually linked to health determinants and inequities. The article concludes with a set of recommendations for research, evaluation, policy and ethics arising from this review.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)310-315
Number of pages6
JournalCanadian Journal of Public Health
Volume97
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

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