The development and initial validation of the smoking policy inventory

• Published in: Tobacco control 1994-12, Vol.3 (4), p.347-355
• Main Authors: Velicer, W. F., Laforge, R. G., Levesque, D. A., Fava, J. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advertising restrictions; Anti smoking movements; Cigarette smoking; Cigarettes; Criminal law; Fees; Public education; Secondhand smoke; Smoking cessation; Tax law
• ISSN: 0964-4563; 1468-3318
• DOI: 10.1136/tc.3.4.347

Objective: Typically, measurement of smoking policy involves the use of a series of individual items that vary in number and kind from study to study. This paper reports on the development and initial validation of a psychometrically sound inventory designed to measure major dimensions of smoking policy for use in population surveys and evaluation of community intervention trials. Design: Inventory development followed a variation of the sequential method of scale construction. This included qualitative analyses (literature reviews, focus groups, item generation, and expert review) and quantitative analyses (item analysis, principal component analysis, confirmatory analysis, and validation on a second sample). Results: A five-dimensional model for smoking policy and a short 35-item smoking policy inventory were developed and confirmed on a second sample. The five scales are: (a) advertising and promotion; (b) public education; (c) laws and penalties; (d) taxes and fees; and (e) restrictions on smoking. Internal validity was demonstrated by differences in the predicted directions with respect to (a) current smoking status; (b) smoking history; (c) sensitivity to smoke; (d) the smoking status of friends; and (e) current stage of change. Conclusions: The smoking policy inventory is a valid instrument that allows for comparisons across samples and over time. Its potential applications include use as an outcome measure for intervention trials, an assessment of both within- and between-sample differences, a mechanism to tailor interventions, and an instrument for epidemiologic surveillance of smoking policy trends.