Perceptions of the Role of West Virginia's Cooperative Extension Service in Tobacco Control Coalitions.

Donald Reed,Sherry Owens,Peggy Lambert Fink,Kathy Danberry,Dana Lester

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2016.00083

Abstract

Despite the fact that the consequences of tobacco use are well identified and known, it remains the single most preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. In West Virginia alone, the adult prevalence of cigarette smoking is 26.8%. This study researches the perceptions of the Cooperative Extension Service’s involvement and role in county-level coalitions that address tobacco use in West Virginia. The research findings provide practical areas to increase the role of the Extension Service in these vital efforts to save lives, reduce economic hardships on families, and reduce the health-care burden on the state government.

Highlights

Despite the fact that the consequences of illness, disease, and death from tobacco use are well identified and known, it remains the single most preventable cause of disease and death in the United States [1]
A survey consisting of 14 multiple-choice and open-ended questions was designed to assess the following information: the geographic coverage area of the coalition, description of the coalition’s focus area, participants’ role in the coalition, coalition’s focus areas, types of tobacco controls that coalitions address, involvement and role of the Extension Service in the coalition, priority populations on which the coalition concentrates, community’s smoking/tobacco policy, and units of the Extension Service involved in the local coalition
When asked if an Extension Service faculty member or staff member was part of the coalition, only 22% (n = 8) answered “Yes.” Of those coalitions that answered “Yes” to Extension Service involvement in the coalition, 57% identified the involvement of the 4-H Youth Development Unit (n = 4), 28% identified the involvement of the Families and Health Unit (n = 3), and 14% identified the involvement of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Unit (n = 1)

Summary

Introduction

Despite the fact that the consequences of illness, disease, and death from tobacco use are well identified and known, it remains the single most preventable cause of disease and death in the United States [1]. To address the burden of tobacco use, the West Virginian Division of Tobacco Prevention funds a regional Tobacco Prevention Coalition Network that assists the local tobacco control coalition in each county. These coalitions comprise local tobacco control advocates, community leaders, and health-care experts, and each coalition determines its own focus and is guided by the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Best Practices in Tobacco Control recommendations

Objectives

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Conclusion