Advance Health Equity in Tobacco Control - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Using Systems Science to Advance Health Equity in Tobacco Control
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
United States
2020
Third Place
Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Disparities in Smoking in the US
Research Team
Paige Logan, Master of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Meghan C. O’Leary, Doctoral student, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Shelley D. Golden, Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Kristen Hassmiller Lich, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Sarah D. Mills, Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Project Summary
This team used systems science to better understand racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in smoking and to identify opportunities for change. Three of their key insights were: 1) Broaden the stakeholders involved to include smokers, retailers, housing officials, community-based organisations and more so priority populations are effectively heard and not burdened further 2) Consider the intended and unintended consequences of policies and programs, with particular attention to additional supports that may be needed to counter increased stress and financial strain 3) Adopt a priority population approach, as opposed to a focus solely on population-level change, so reducing socioeconomic and racial/ethnic disparities in smoking is a key goal.