Developing approaches for evaluating smoke-free policies: a case study of a collaborative response to an emerging technical assistance need.

This article describes how several tobacco control organizations identified and responded to an emerging need for technical assistance on how to evaluate smoke-free policies. The authors outline the purposes of evaluating smoke-free policies and present examples of evaluation approaches and tools. Examples are provided of how evaluation has been used to advance the adoption, implementation, and defense of smoke-free policies. Opportunities for further research are identified. Finally, the authors review lessons learned and discuss their implications for evaluating policy initiatives addressing other public health issues.