October 10, 2006
State to Conduct Annual Tobacco Use Survey
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) will launch a telephone survey Oct. 15 to gauge the level of tobacco use among Montanans, as well as their beliefs and attitudes about it. The survey will end Jan. 30.
Survey participants are chosen anonymously by a random-digit-dialing process. State-sponsored surveys are exempt from "no-call" lists and, because phone numbers are generated randomly, unlisted numbers are sometimes included.
“This survey is important because it’s the only way we have to get accurate and representative data about tobacco use in this state,” said Carol Ballew, epidemiologist for the DPHHS Cancer Control Program. “The data we gather helps us to better focus our efforts in the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program.”
Tobacco use surveys are conducted annually by the Tobacco Use Prevention Program of DPHHS in collaboration with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The survey takes about 15-20 minutes, Ballew said, and the anonymous results are widely distributed to legislators, public health officials, and health-care providers.
“Participating in the survey gives Montana residents a chance to tell us and their legislators how they feel about the Clean Indoor Air Act, tobacco taxes, and other issues,” Ballew said. “We hope that everyone who is called will consider participating so all voices can be heard.”
Survey results are available to the public in reports from the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program. The 2005 survey is available online at www.tobaccofree.mt.gov, under the Newsroom/Publications menu options.
If you have questions about the survey, visit www.tobaccofree.mt.gov or contact Ballew at 406-444-6988 or cballew@mt.gov.
