Projects
Welcome to the SRDAR projects catalog.  In this section you can browse listings of recent and archived projects completed here at SRDAR.

Project Browser
New York State Adult Tobacco Use Survey
Gilda Radner Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry Project
International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project
Western New York Adult Tobacco Use Survey
A Survey of Smokers Regarding Low-Ignition Propensity Cigarettes and Fire Risks: Ontario
The QuitGene Study: A Mail-Based Mouthwash Collection Study to Obtain DNA from a Geographically Dispersed Cohort of Current and Former Smokers
Adoption of the HPV Preventive Vaccine: A Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Among Students at The State University of New York at Buffalo
Quit the Smokes
Promoting Tobacco and Cancer Control: Message Framing for Telephone Quitline Callers
No Strings Attached
Pilot Study to Assess the Association Between Second Hand Smoke and Selected Physiologic Measures
The Data Bank and BioRepository Project
Welcome to SRDAR Recent Project Browser

To begin, please select a project from your right.
New York State Adult Tobacco Use Survey

The New York Adult Tobacco Use Survey (NY ATS) is a currently ongoing random digit dial telephone survey to monitor trends in tobacco use and tobacco related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors throughout New York State. The survey has been conducted quarterly since June 2003 in both English and Spanish, resulting in approximately 2,000 completed interviews per quarter (8,000 per annum). Methodology for NY ATS is based on guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) funds the survey and has contracted the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) for the data collection, who in turn has sub-contracted the Survey Research and Data Acquisition Resource (SRDAR) in the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. In brief, the target population for NY ATS is smoking and non-smoking adults 18 years of age or older living in New York households. The random digit dial (RDD) sample selection process includes an initial pre-screening of sampled telephone numbers using a commercial service to identify non-working numbers. The RDD sample is then supplemented with a list-based sample. All phone numbers in the sample which have a corresponding directory-listed name and address are sent an advance letter to briefly describe the study and to notify residents that interviewers will be contacting them to formally invite their participation. Once these residents are contacted, subject selection is achieved from among all age-eligible adults in the household. When an eligible sample member is identified, the interviewer obtains informed consent and attempts to complete the interview at the time of screening. In 2008, we have achieved quarterly AAPOR #3 response rates ranging from 31% to 39%, when focusing on the portion of the sample that is in New York State but outside of New York City. 
Gilda Radner Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry Project

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. It is anticipated that this registry will lead to improved detection of high risk families and individuals, reliable predictive testing for cancer predisposition, and an understanding of the molecular events that result in cancer predisposition and cancer development. We update approximately 100 family pedigrees per month by contacting an average of 200 individuals regarding their family tree.  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. It is anticipated that this registry will lead to improved detection of high risk families and individuals, reliable predictive testing for cancer predisposition, and an understanding of the molecular events that result in cancer predisposition and cancer development. We update approximately 100 family pedigrees per month by contacting an average of 200 individuals regarding their family tree.  
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. It is anticipated that this registry will lead to improved detection of high risk families and individuals, reliable predictive testing for cancer predisposition, and an understanding of the molecular events that result in cancer predisposition and cancer development. 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

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 ITC study began in 2002, and in 2008, a web version of this survey was successfully created and implemented in conjunction with the phone survey. The initial phase of the ITC Project is a random-digit-dialed phone survey of over 8,000 adult smokers throughout four countries: Canada, United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. This initial study follows a panel of participants over the next five years, and incorporates Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) initiatives that are likely to be implemented over the next four years in at least one of the four countries with a series of multiple natural experiments. The seventh wave of the ITC project was successfully completed in May 2009. The surveys are approximately 45 minutes in length, and are completed in both English and French.
Western New York Adult Tobacco Use Survey

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 efficacy of various local level tobacco control interventions, as well as Western New Yorkers’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about tobacco use. The target population was adult smokers 18 years of age or older living in the Western New York counties of Erie, Niagara, Genesee, and Orleans. The random digit dialing process and questionnaire used for the WNY ATS was the same as that of the NYS ATS administered during the same time period. The WNY ATS was instituted between April and June 2005 when 428 adult residents living in Erie, Genesee, Niagara and Orleans Counties were over-sampled in addition to the sample obtained from the NY ATS. 184 of these 428 individuals were followed up as part of the 2006 WNY ATS Cohort Survey (43% response rate) and an additional sample of 309 smokers were identified and interviewed through random digit dialing as part of the 2006 WNY ATS Cross-Sectional Survey. Between May and August 2007, 286 of the 493 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 in both the 2006 and 2007 WNY ATS surveys.
A Survey of Smokers Regarding Low-Ignition Propensity Cigarettes and Fire Risks: Ontario

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. The study population consists of 596 current cigarette smokers in Ontario, Canada. During the recruitment, qualifying respondents (those at least 18 years old who were currently smoking at least some days) were asked to participate in a 15-minute survey on smoking being conducted by Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Respondents were told they would receive a small payment (CDN$15) to thank them for their time and assured that their responses were strictly confidential. Respondents were told that they would be contacted in approximately 12 months time to complete a second 15-minute survey, for which they received a second payment of CDN$15. The baseline data was collected in July through September 2005 (n=596), and a follow-up was conducted in July through September 2006.
The QuitGene Study:  A Mail-Based Mouthwash Collection Study to Obtain DNA from a Geographically Dispersed Cohort of Current and Former Smokers

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. The study population included the 4,607 people who participated in telephone surveys as part of the Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation between 1988 and 1993, completed follow-up surveys in both 2001 and 2005, and consented to receiving the DNA data collection materials in the mail. The survey data for the COMMIT study was collected by a subcontractor (WESTAT). In order to complete the biologic data collection, we worked closely with WESTAT. 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. The kits contained (a) a personalized cover letter and consent form, (b) a check for US$10, (c) a 40-ml collection container with a screw-on lid, (d) a sealed 44-ml bottle of Scope mouthwash e) a postage-paid, pre-addressed return mailing envelope and leak-proof zip-lock bag for the collection container, (f) instructions for participants. The all-inclusive cost per sample received was $33.00. A total of 1,943 usable samples were returned (42%).
Adoption of the HPV Preventive Vaccine: A Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Among Students at The State University of New York at Buffalo

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 primary objective is to collect valid and reliable data from a sample of college students attending SUNY Buffalo for the purpose of assessing knowledge and willingness to take advantage of the newly approved quadrivalent HPV vaccine. The study population consisted of 500 students who were enrolled in sections of General Psychology (PSY 101) during the spring of 2008. General Psychology is a general education course which includes students across different majors and class levels at SUNY Buffalo. 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. Students who registered to participate in this survey in exchange for course credit simply clicked on a link to the web-based survey informed consent page. Upon consenting, the student was then directed to the survey page. Students who signed up to take the survey, but did not complete it after 7 days were sent a reminder e-mail asking to complete the survey at their earliest convenience. The survey ran from February 11, 2008 through March 31, 2008. The final sample size was 490. The median age of the sample was 19.4 and 51.4% of the population were females.
Quit the Smokes

“Quit the Smokes” was a quit and win contest that was held from January 15th to February 15th, 2007. 3,841 smokers from the Western New York population entered “Quit the Smokes.” Evaluation interviews were completed in July and August, 2007 using a bi-modal method of data collection. A sample size of 473 participants was randomly selected to be followed up, with 222 successful interviews completed (overall response rate=47%). During the contest promotional period, participants registered and provided their contact information. 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). Initial non-responders of the Internet survey were randomized to receive reminder e-mails for the Internet survey (n=157) or to complete the interview by telephone (n=149). 38 participants completed the Internet-based survey (response rate=20.9%); 97 participants completed the phone-only survey (68.3%); and 87 participants completed the telephone interview after receiving the initial request for the Internet survey (58.4%).  

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

This study was a collaboration with researchers from Yale University which evaluated types of Quitline techniques. This study had two phases, the first of which involves the development of new printed materials and protocols and the training of new Quitline counseling techniques. 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. The callers were counseled and sent printed material. Three months after their initial contact, these Quitline clients were asked to participate in a follow-up survey, which assessed the success rates of cessation within each of these conditions. A total of 1,288 participants were successfully followed-up, for a response rate of 52%.
No Strings Attached

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

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

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship and association of exposure to second hand smoke (SHS) and specific physiologic indicators. In this study, the staff members involved visited participants’ homes to collect baseline data and instruct participants on how to properly use data collection devices. The data collected included both physiological data and written questionnaires collected and completed by participants daily over a two day period. After these two days, the data was analyzed to find the association between the exposure to SHS and the physiological indicators being examined.
The Data Bank and BioRepository Project

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. The information obtained through the questionnaires includes medical and smoking history as well as current diet and lifestyle habits. The information provided by the blood sample and questionnaire is used find connections of clinical risk factors for cancer. The DBBR is able to use this data for multiple studies that have diverse interests and goals. When completed questionnaires were returned to Roswell Park Cancer Institute, they were carefully examined for any imprecision or vagueness. Within a week, telephone interviewers contacted participants, practicing specific confidentiality practices and obtaining the informed consent of each participant before proceeding. Through careful communication and attention to detail, interviewers were able to gather more precise and accurate information from participants. When the data from questionnaires was at its most precise and accurate, it was returned to the DBBR to be used in research. Within the past year, approximately 2,000 questionnaires were handled by telephone interviewers in a timely manner for the most efficient and advantageous use possible.  

 

 

Archived Projects (2006 & before)