SRDAR : Projects

New York State Adult Tobacco Use Survey

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The New York Adult Tobacco Use Survey (NY ATS) is a telephone survey conducted to monitor trends in tobacco use, as well as tobacco-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors throughout New York State. The target population for NY ATS is adults 18 years of age or older, both smoking and non-smoking, living in New York households.

Conducted quarterly since June 2003 in both English and Spanish
Approximately 2,000 completed interviews per quarter (8,000 per annum)
In 2008, we have achieved quarterly AAPOR #3 response rates ranging from 31% to 39%
Methodology for NY ATS is based on guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).

Gilda Radner Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry Project

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In collaboration with the Gilda Radner Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry, we are collecting and updating family history information and family medical information to help facilitate research on familial ovarian cancer.

Improves the understanding of the molecular events that result in cancer predisposition and cancer development
Will lead to improved detection of high risk families and individuals
Helps provide more reliable predictive testing for cancer predisposition
We update approximately 100 family pedigrees per month by contacting an average of 200 individuals regarding their family tree

International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project

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The International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC) is an ongoing multi-national telephone survey which is used to evaluate government policies regarding smoking and their impact on smoking habits. The seventh wave of the ITC project was successfully completed in May 2009.

Initial phase of ITC is a random-digit-dialed phone survey of over 8,000 adult smokers throughout four countries: Canada, United States, United Kingdom, and Australia
Study follows a panel of participants over the next five years
Web version of the survey was successfully created and implemented in conjunction with the phone survey in 2008
Surveys are completed in both English and French.

View Deliverables:__ITC Web - Poster-SRNT 2010.pdf

Wave 7.5 Pack Collection

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As a supplementary study among ITC (International Tobacco Control) study participants, Wave 7.5 Pack Collection explored how a cigarette tax increase might influence smokers' behavior, in response to the increase in the federal cigarette tax on April 1, 2009. The principle investigators were Dr. Andrew Hyland and Brian Fix, MA, of Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Study revolved around the collection of new, unopened cigarette packs from previous participants of the ITC study
Provided a unique opportunity to evaluate whether smokers will engage in compensatory behaviors that might diminish or negate the effects of a tax increase
Although labor intensive, SRDAR's collection of cigarette packs resulted in very high response rates, and was an innovative concept in research
Our staff was highly successful in convincing smokers to participate, even as it required them to send away a new, unopened pack of cigarettes

Western New York Adult Tobacco Use Survey

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The Western New York Adult Tobacco Use Survey (WNY ATS) was a telephone survey founded upon the New York State Adult Tobacco Use Survey (NYS ATS) in 2005 to assess the efficiency of various local level tobacco control interventions, as well as Western New Yorkers’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about tobacco use.

184 individuals were followed up as part of the 2006 WNY ATS Cohort Survey (43% response rate)
Between May and August 2007, 286 individuals who originally participated in the 2006 WNY ATS surveys were followed up in the 2007 WNY ATS (58% response rate)
A total of 100 participants who originally completed the 2005 WNY ATS were successfully followed up in both the 2006 and 2007 WNY ATS surveys
An additional sample of 309 smokers were identified and interviewed through random digit dialing

View Deliverables:__Tobacco Control Journal - WNYATS.pdf;__WNY ATS Report-2006.pdf;__WNY ATS Report-2007.pdf

A Survey of Smokers Regarding Low-Ignition Propensity Cigarettes and Fire Risks: Ontario

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The purpose of this study to was to identify the prevalence and correlates of behaviors related to the risk of cigarette-caused fires in a cohort sample of Ontario smokers. Smokers were selected based on a Random Digit Dialing method.

Study population consists of 596 current cigarette smokers in Ontario,Canada
Baseline study and additional follow-up survey

View Deliverables:__Inj Prev Journal-2007-adstract.pdf

The QuitGene Study

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The purpose of this study was to link survey data from the National Cancer Institute’s Community Trial for Smoking Cessation (COMMIT) with genetic data derived from buccal cell samples from saliva, obtained through the mail. SRDAR’s role included the biologic kit assembly, shipment, tracking, receipt, and coordination of lab analysis.

Study population included 4,607 individuals who participated in telephone surveys as part of the Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation
In order to complete the biologic data collection, SRDAR worked closely with WESTAT, a subcontractor in charge of collecting the survey data for the COMMIT study
Confidentiality of the participants was stringently maintained, with ample coordination between investigators and WESTAT to ensure compliance
Sample collection kits were mailed to the participants in July through October 2005; a total of 1,943 usable samples were returned (42%).

View Deliverables:__QuitGene poster - SRNT.pdf

At Face Value: A Study of Self-Image and Health Behavior

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This study utilized APRIL® Age Progression software to show 8th and 10th grade students images of themselves being aged under the ‘smoking’ condition or, as a control, under the ‘obesity’ condition. Students completed surveys before being aged and approximately 6 weeks afterwards. Outcomes assessed were changes in knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about smoking as well as changes in tobacco use indicators between the two groups overall and by grade level.

Protocol and survey development, survey administration, data analysis
862 participants completed pre- and post intervention paper surveys

View Deliverables:__Aging Study Final Summary.pdf

Adoption of the HPV Preventive Vaccine

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The purpose of this study was to survey students at The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) to assess their knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and intentions related to the new HPV preventive vaccine. The study population consisted of 500 students who were enrolled in sections of General Psychology (PSY 101).

As part of the course requirement, students in PSY 101 could elect to participate in eligible research projects, by registering through the Experimetrix system
A survey description was presented on the Experimetrix website and students had the choice to register to participate in the survey in exchange for PSY 101 credit
The median age of the sample was 19.4 and 51.4% of the population were females
Final sample size was 490 (98%)

View Deliverables:__HPV poster-APHA 2009.pdf

Quit the Smokes

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“Quit the Smokes” was a quit and win contest that was held from January 15th to February 15th, 2007. Evaluation interviews were completed in July and August, 2007 using a bi-modal method of data collection.

3,841 smokers from theWestern New York population entered “Quit the Smokes”
Entrants that supplied an e-mail address were sent an Internet-based survey (n=331)
A random sample of those that did not provide an e-mail address were selected for a SRDAR telephone interview (n=142)
38 participants completed the Internet-based survey (response rate=20.9%); 97 participants completed the phone-only survey (68.3%)

View Deliverables:__Quit the Smokes Report - draft 11-12-07.pdf

Promoting Tobacco and Cancer Control: Message Framing for Telephone Quitline Callers

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This study was a collaboration with researchers from Yale University, evaluating various types of Quitline techniques. The first part of the study involves the development of new Quitline counseling techniques, printed materials, and protocols. The second phase was a pilot study which evaluated the effectiveness of these new techniques.

2,500 participants were recruited from a pool of English-speaking residents who called the New York State Smokers’ Quitline
Callers were counseled and sent printed material
Three months after initial contact, participants were asked complete a follow-up survey, which assessed the success rates of cessation
A total of 1,288 participants were successfully followed-up, for a response rate of 52%

View Deliverables:__Message Framing - JNCI 2010 - Ben Toll.pdf

No Strings Attached

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This study was conducted in collaboration with the Task Force for Tobacco-Free Women and Girls. Surveys were designed to assess organizations’ attitudes, policies and practices regarding sponsorships and donations from tobacco companies and to measure the effectiveness of an intervention to motivate policy change.

SRDAR worked to develop a baseline and follow-up survey and administered these surveys to organizations that serve women and girls across New York State
Organizations were given the option of completing the survey over the phone, or having it mailed, faxed, or emailed to them
311 organizations were interviewed at baseline
The follow-up list consisted of 271 organizations; of those, 188 completed the follow-up survey (69%)

View Deliverables:__NSA Report-2009.pdf

Pilot Study to Assess the Association Between Secondhand Smoke and Selected Physiologic Measures

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The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship and association of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and specific physiologic indicators.

SRDAR staff members involved visited participants’ homes to collect baseline data and instruct participants on how to properly use data collection devices.
Data collected included both physiological data and written questionnaires completed by participants

The Data Bank and BioRepository Project

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The Data Bank and BioRepository (DBBR) is an inclusive bank of data samples from willing participants who have been diagnosed with cancer. By obtaining a blood sample and questionnaire from participants, researchers analyze and interpret data to study the prevention, etiology, and treatment of different types of cancer.

Completed questionnaires were carefully examined for any imprecision and/or vagueness
Through careful communication and attention to detail, SRDAR interviewers gathered more precise and detailed information from participants
When data was most precise it was returned to the DBBR for use in research; The DBBR is able to use this data for multiple studies with diverse interests and goals
Within the past year, approximately 2,000 questionnaires were handled by telephone interviewers

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