The Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP):  Prevalence and Correlates of African-American Tobacco Use is a statewide collaborative effort between the California Black Health Network and San Diego State University.  This three-year research study funded by The Regents of the University of California began in July of 2006.  One of TRDRP's primary areas of research is prevention and cessation of tobacco use and Tobacco-Related Health Disparities among California's Diverse Populations – and specifically, Social-Behavioral Science research on tobacco use among California ethnic minorities that might explain the socio-cultural factors entailed.

The mission of TRDRP is to support research that focuses on the prevention, causes, and treatment of tobacco-related disease and the reduction of the human and economic costs of tobacco use in California.  http://calquits.org/

Purpose:
The purpose of this research study is to acquire basic data on the prevalence and correlates of tobacco use among California Black adults through community-based sampling.  The study will also examine the impact of residing in segregated versus non-segregated neighborhoods on Black health.  This information is essential to the development of tobacco control and other health programs for the state’s Black population.

In the past, data on tobacco use among California Black adults has come from statewide, random digit-dial telephone surveys.  However, studies have shown that these samples are biased and non-representative for two reasons.  First, because low-income Blacks are more likely than other groups to lack landline telephones.  The people who answer the phone surveys tend to be highly- educated, female and higher socioeconomic status (SES) members of the community, and they have low smoking rates.  Secondly, many Blacks are distrustful of health research and refuse to participate in telephone surveys.  In other states, Blacks who were interviewed in person in their communities, as opposed to random digit-dial telephone surveys by (assumed) Whites, reported smoking rates 2 to 3 times higher.

Methods: 
Our San Diego State University (SDSU) partners selected 20 census tracts ranging from 34% to 96% Black (10 low and 10 high segregation levels) and different levels of SES, in five areas of the state:  San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Oakland/San Francisco and the Riverside. Data collection was completed in June 2008, with over 2,000 surveys collected in these census tracts in proportion to the percentage of the total Black population in California. Thus, the largest sample came from Los Angeles because approximately 47% of African Americans in California live in L.A.    Data Collection Assistants went door-to-door to collect surveys on the weekends in the selected census tracts.  Only one African-American adult per household was allowed to fill out the survey and he/she was compensated $10.00 upon completion. 

We received some very positive responses, including one survey taker who said, “Maybe this will help me quit smoking!”  Others wrote “God Bless You!” on the survey.  A 27-year-old young man said that when he took the survey it really made him reflect on his life, questioning why he ever started smoking (age 13) and how he wished he never had. Another said that he had been “shot due to racism in the back…Thank you for the chance to be a part of something.”  L.A. Outreach Workers said they were “very proud of the work they are contributing” to this unique and important statewide research project.

Survey:
The 6-page survey asks about use and exposure to tobacco products.  It also asks about social factors and cultural factors that may affect tobacco use.  Other health questions include chronic diseases.  There are also questions related to other health behaviors (fruit/vegetable consumption, physical activity, alcohol-use, screening for cancer and protection against skin cancer). 

Data Analysis:
Starting in July 2008, SDSU researchers will analyze the data.  They will also examine effects of neighborhood-level segregation and racial discrimination and cultural factors on tobacco use.

For more information, call Diane Ake at 619-295-5413 ext. 7405 or email dake@cbhn.org.