DPHHS to Conduct Adult Tobacco Survey
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) would like state residents to be aware of a phone survey it’s conducting on tobacco-related issues.
The survey will run from March 24 through mid-June.
About 2,500 adults age 18 or older will have a chance to voice their opinion about the Clean Indoor Air Act, tobacco taxes, and other issues, said Carol Ballew, an epidemiologist of the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program for DPHHS.
“We urge everyone who is called to participate so all voices can be heard,” Ballew said.
Ballew concedes that some people are sensitive to random phone calls at home, but hopes that people understand that this method of collecting information has proven to be quite efficient over the years. “These surveys are the only way to obtain accurate and representative data about the residents of our state,” she explained.
The survey takes about 12-15 minutes to complete and begins with the caller identifying himself or herself by stating: ‘I'm calling for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. We're gathering information on the health of Montana residents. Your phone number has been chosen randomly, and I'd like to ask some questions about health and tobacco.’
Participants are chosen by random-digit dialing and are anonymous. Calls will be placed between 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
Also, this year for the first time cell phone numbers will be included in the random calling pool. State-sponsored surveys are exempt from ‘no-call’ lists and because phone numbers are generated at random, sometimes unlisted numbers are called.
The survey is carefully designed to be sure that participants are representative of all Montana residents, Ballew noted.
Reports about the survey results are widely distributed to state legislators, public health officials, and health care providers.
The 2006 survey results are available at the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program web site at www.tobaccofree.mt.gov. Once at the site click into newsroom/publications located in the left margin. This survey has been taken every year since 2000.
For more information contact Ballew at 406-444-6988 or cballew@mt.gov
Page last updated: 03/24/2008
