The International Tobacco Control (ITC) Policy Evaluation Survey :: A study to improve tobacco control (resourced by the Health Research Council and the Ministry of Health)

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The ITC Project - New Zealand Arm

The International Tobacco Control (ITC) Policy Evaluation Survey is a multi-country study that includes a New Zealand arm. The New Zealand arm arose from an initiative of the National Heart Foundation to bring Professor Mike Cummings (Roswell Park Cancer Institute, USA) to New Zealand and meet with health workers here.

Research Team

Associate Professor Nick Wilson (Principal Investigator),
Profesor Richard Edwards (Deputy PI),
Associate Professor Chris Bullen, Co-investigator, Auckland University
Dr George Thomson, (Co-investigator, University of Otago),
Professor Tony Blakely, (Co-investigator, University of Otago),
Professor Ron Borland, Co-investigator Cancer Council Victoria, Australia
Judy Li (PhD student),
Dr Heather Gifford,  (Maori tobacco control expert),
Jo Peace (Research Manager),
Dr Deepa Weerasekera, (Biostatistician)

Our International Collaborators: There are over 14 other countries participating in this survey. Please see the ITC Project website.

Article describing the Project

A brief article about the project, taken from the University of Otago publication He Kitenga 2006 (PDF)

Examples of media coverage of research outputs

 

Research outputs to date from the NZ arm of the ITC Project

Research published in Journals

  • Thomson G, Wilson N, Weerasekera D, Edwards R. Strong smoker interest in ‘setting example to children’ by quitting: national survey data. Aus N Z J Public Health (In press).

  • Thomson G, Wilson N, Blakely T, Edwards R. Ending appreciable tobacco use in a nation: Using a sinking lid on supply. Tob Control (In press).

  • Wilson N, Peace J, Edwards R, Weerasekera D. Smokers commonly misperceive that nicotine is a major carcinogen: National survey data. Thorax (In press).
  • Hoek J, Wilson N, Allen M, Edwards R, Thomson G, Li J. Lessons from New Zealand’s introduction of pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging. Bull WHO (in press).

  • Wilson N, Weerasekera D, Borland R, Edwards R, Bullen C, Li J. Use of a national quitline and variation in use by smoker characteristics. Nicotine Tob Res (in press).

  • Wilson N, Weerasekera D, Hoek J, Li J, Edwards R. Increased smoker recognition of a national quitline number following introduction of improved pack warnings: National survey data. Nicotine Tob Res (in press).

  • Wilson N, Edwards R, Thomson G, Weerasekera D, Gifford H, Hoek J. High and increased support by Maori and non-Maori smokers for a ban on point-of-sale tobacco displays: national survey data. N Z Med J 2010;123(1317):84-86.

  • Wilson N, Edwards R, Thomson G, Weerasekera D, Talemaitoga A. High support for a tobacco endgame by Pacific peoples who smoke: national survey data. N Z Med J 2010;123(1316):131-134.
  • Wilson N, Hoek J, Peace J, Gifford H, Thomson G, Edwards R. Marketing tobacco to New Zealand women: 8 ways to reflect on “World No Tobacco Day”. N Z Med J 2010;123(1315):84-90.

  • Wilson N, Weerasekera D, Edwards R, Thomson G, Devlin M, Gifford H. Characteristics of smoker support for increasing a dedicated tobacco tax: National survey data from New Zealand. Nicotine Tob Res 2009;12(2):168-73.  [Abstract]

  • Edwards R, Wilson N, Thomson G, Weerasekera D, Blakely T. Majority support by Māori and non-Māori smokers for many aspects of increased tobacco control regulation: national survey data. N Z Med J 2009;122(1307):115-118.

  • Wilson N, Thomson G, Weerasekera D, Blakely T, Edwards R, Peace J, Young D, Gifford H. Smoker misperceptions around tobacco: national survey data of particular relevance to protecting Maori health. N Z Med J 2009;122(1306):123-127.
  • Wilson N, Weerasekera D, Edwards R, Blakely T. Smoker support for increased (if dedicated) tobacco tax by individual deprivation level: national survey data. Tob Control 2009;18:512.
  • Wilson N, Young D, Weerasekera D, Edwards R, Thomson G, Glover M. The importance of tobacco prices to roll-your-own (RYO) smokers (national survey data): higher tax needed on RYO. N Z Med J 2009;122(1305):92-96.
  • Thomson G, Wilson N, Edwards R. At the frontier of tobacco control: A brief review of public attitudes to smokefree outdoor places. Nicotine Tob Res 2009;11(6):584-90. [Abstract]
  • Thomson G, Wilson N. Public attitudes to laws for smokefree private vehicles: A brief review. Tob Control 2009;18(4):256-61 [Abstract]
  • Wilson N, Thomson G, Edwards R. Use of Four Major Tobacco Control Interventions in New Zealand: A Review. N Z Med J 2008;121:71-86 (Reprinted in NZMJ Digest 2008;9:35-39).

  • Norton KJ, Wilkins K, O’Connor R, Wilson N, Edwards R, Peace J. Properties of “light” cigarettes sold in New Zealand. N Z Med J 2008;121:107-110.[Free full text]

  • Contributed data to: Hyland A, Travers MJ, Dresler C, et al. A 32-country comparison of tobacco moke derived particle levels in indoor public places. Tob Control 2008;17(3):159-65. [Abstract]

Research presented at conferences

  • Thomson G, Wilson N, Bullen C. Butt lengths differ by area deprivation level: a field study to explore intensive smoking [Poster presentation]. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 13th Annual Meeting 27 February – 1 March 2008, Portland Oregon. POS4-74.

  • Peace J, Wilson N, Thomson G, Edwards R, Bullen C. Coloring on cigarette packs: is it part of deceptive tobacco marketing? [Poster presentation]. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 13th Annual Meeting 27 February – 1 March 2008, Portland Oregon. POS1-80.

  • Edwards R, Wilson N, Bullen C. Drift of second-hand smoke from outdoor smoking areas to the inside of pubs/bars [Poster presentation]. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, 13th Annual Meeting 27 February – 1 March 2008, Portland Oregon. POS4-70.
  • Wilson N, Blakely T, Borland R, Bullen C, Edwards R, Gerritsen S, Gifford H, McRobbie H, Ponniah S, Thomson G. Novel Methodological Features of the New Zealand Arm of the ITC Project [Conference Poster]. Madison, WI: Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Proceedings of 13th Annual Meeting 21-24 February 2007, Austin TX. POS1-153.

  • Edwards R, Wilson N, Blakely T, Borland R, Bullen C, Ponniah S, Gerritsen S, McRobbie H. Novel methodological features of the New Zealand arm of the ITC Project. Presentation at the Smokefree Oceania Tobacco Control Conference" From Vision to Reality" 5 September 2007, Auckland (Abstract 167).

Other Journal articles in collaboration with other ITC Project colleagues


Reports

 

Submissions to government agencies based on our work:

These have been to the Commerce Commission (“light” cigarettes), Standards NZ (“fire-safe cigarettes), to the Maori Affairs Select Committee and to health sector policymakers (especially on tobacco tax, and point-of-sale tobacco displays).


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