March 4, 2009

MTUPP to Conduct Adult Tobacco Survey

The Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP) of the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will conduct the 2009 Montana Adult Tobacco Survey (ATS) from March through June.

The ATS is an annual telephone survey about tobacco use, beliefs, and attitudes that has been conducted in Montana since 2004. 

This year, about 2,500 Montana adults 18 years or older will be asked to participate in the survey.  “The survey will provide information on the prevalence of tobacco use in Montana as well as Montanans’ knowledge and attitudes about tobacco use and cessation, secondhand smoke, and public policies, such as the Clean Indoor Air Act,” said Laura Biazzo, MTUPP epidemiologist for DPHHS. 

Survey results are used to guide MTUPP program planning and other public health programs.  Reports about the survey results are widely distributed to legislators, public health officials, and health care providers.

Surveys are the best way to obtain accurate and representative data about the residents of the state. “We strongly encourage participation because the results of this survey provide key guidance as to where and how the state should invest its tobacco use prevention efforts,” Biazzo said. 

Participants are chosen by random-digit dialing and are anonymous. The survey is carefully designed to be sure that participants are representative of all Montana residents. State-sponsored surveys are exempt from ‘no-call’ lists and, because phone numbers are generated at random, sometimes unlisted numbers are called.
 
Results are available to the public in reports from the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program.  Previous ATS reports can be read at www.tobaccofree.mt.gov under Tobacco Resources/Reports in the left margin.

For more information please go to www.tobaccofree.mt.gov or contact Laura Biazzo at 406-444-0064 or lbiazzo@mt.gov.