# Integrating Longitudinal Data to Examine Directional, Synergistic and Differential Effects of Tobacco Control Policies on Smoking

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2020 · $162,683

## Abstract

Abstract
Although significant progress has been made in reducing smoking rates in the United States, one in seven
Americans continues to smoke, and smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in this country.
Evidence suggests that tobacco control policies, including cigarette excise taxes, smokefree air laws and
tobacco control program funding, can effectively reduce tobacco consumption in general. What remains
unknown are which combinations of tobacco control policies are most effective, whether policy-related gains
can be maintained during periods of policy retrenchment, and whether tobacco policies can shrink strong
socioeconomic smoking disparities. To examine these questions, we propose to develop and analyze a
dataset that integrates longitudinal observations of individual smoking behavior with measures of state and
local tobacco control policy exposure, as well as area measures of socioeconomic status. Using repeated
observations of 18,407 individuals' smoking behavior as policies change in their home state, county or city, or
as they move to a new place with different policies, we aim to identify whether changes in adult smoking
behavior following exposure to stronger tobacco control policies are the inverse of changes in behavior
observed following exposure to weaker policies, and assess which policy combinations are most likely to be
effective in the current context. By incorporating measures of individual and area income and educational
status, we further aim to estimate the impact of single and combined tobacco control policy options on
socioeconomic disparities in smoking. Our team has expertise in several areas, including tobacco control,
policy evaluation and longitudinal data analysis. This innovative policy analysis method could be used to
complement more traditional policy evaluation techniques for other health-related policies as well.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10022100
- **Project number:** 5R21CA222525-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Shelley Golden
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $162,683
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-20 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10022100

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10022100, Integrating Longitudinal Data to Examine Directional, Synergistic and Differential Effects of Tobacco Control Policies on Smoking (5R21CA222525-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10022100. Licensed CC0.

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