Recommendations from the ASPH/Legacy Scholarship, Training, and Education Program for Tobacco Use Prevention (STEP UP) strategy planning meeting Chicago, May 3, 2005.

During this meeting, the participants developed a strategic set of recommendations for ASPH to continue to advance the study of tobacco control in public health through research and education/training programs. The meeting focused on sustaining and further developing tobacco-related research and education/ training programs. All four issues were addressed in depth through valuable discussion and exchange and reflected in the nine areas of focus. Recommendations for advocacy for future funding for SPH in tobacco control included developing collaborative relationships with ASPH partners, organizations, and institutions with complementary objectives (state departments of health, third party payors, etc). Priorities for sustaining and further developing research and education/training programs within SPH included developing a focus on particular research areas (e.g., special populations, economic issues, dissemination and translational issues), building on existing knowledge, and attempting to avoid the effects of "siloing" with collaborative relationships and methods for addressing the sustenance of programs beyond initial funding periods. Methods to maintain vigilance on tobacco control with increasing concerns about other risk factors included fostering an increasing awareness of tobacco-related issues, projects, and programs as well as developing collaborative relationships with organizations and institutions with complementary health-risk related objectives. Other recommendations focused on enhancing SPH leadership in the tobacco control field by developing standards and methodologies and translating research to practice. They included (1) developing standards for consistent tobacco control-related education to public health students, public health professionals, and other students and professionals; (2) developing a standardized method for evaluating tobacco-attributable factors and effects; and (3) conducting effectiveness trials of treatments known to be efficacious. Effectively addressing these perennial issues will enable SPH to enhance its leadership position and contribute greatly to research and education/training in tobacco control. All of these issues were factors in program planning for the second National STEP UP Academic Tobacco Workshop. For instance, reviews of particular research areas might be offered or facilitated as well as methods for developing collaborative partnerships and subsequent efforts. Steps toward the development of tobacco control education core competencies might be developed as well. The second National STEP UP Academic Tobacco Workshop-STEP UP to Sustain Tobacco Control and Prevention through Education and Research--was held on January 30-31, 2006. The topics of discussion ranged from use of secondary data to behavioral economics. More information about the workshop can be found at http://www.asph.org/ document.cfm?page=882. Attention to the recommendations that resulted from the planning meeting will provide a strategic platform from which ASPH and the public health community can continue to address the single greatest cause of preventable disease and death in the world.