Current and recent research activities
Members of GRIT are involved in a diverse range of tobacco control research and its dissemination.
Activities
Research activities include
- Tobacco companies, global governance and public health.
- Equity impact of tobacco control policies, programmes and interventions.
- Evaluation of the impact of the Scottish tobacco point of sale display ban (DISPLAY).
- A realist evaluation of programmes and strategies to prevent youth smoking in seven European cities (SILNE-R).
- Evaluation of interventions to reduce smoking in the home.
- Smokers’ views and experiences of e-cigarettes
- Transnational tobacco companies, global change and public policy
- Analysis of the political economy of the tobacco industry in South East Asia
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The impact of the local availability of tobacco products on smoking-related outcomes
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Inequalities in children’s exposure to tobacco retailing across Scotland
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Regulating the local availability of tobacco retailing in Spain
Seminars
- Seminar on E-cigarettes and Tobacco Inequalities, University of Edinburgh, 5th June 2018
This seminar explored the relationship between the emerging use of e-cigarettes and tobacco-related inequalities in the UK, and considered the implications for policy, research and practice. The emerging findings of two current Cancer Research UK-funded projects were presented. These presentations were followed by a panel discussion providing responses from key figures in tobacco policy, advocacy, research and practice.
A full meeting report can accessed through the link below.
Reports
Report on Tobacco control and standardised packaging in the UK Overseas Territories, July 2019
This report from the University of Edinburgh’s Group for Research on Inequalities and Tobacco (GRIT) examined challenges confronting tobacco control in the UK Overseas Territories and heighted the catalytic potential of extension of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This was launched at an event in July 2019 attended by the Bermudan Minister of Health, tobacco control leads from several other UKOTs, and representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and Public Health England (PHE).
The report was commissioned by PHE as part of a four-year programme – funded via the UK’s Conflict, Stability and Security Fund – to support territories in implementing key Articles under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Territories including Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and St Helena are making significant progress in protecting their populations from second-hand smoke, banning tobacco advertising, and requiring more effective health warnings on tobacco products.
The group’s research highlighted both challenges and opportunities for advancing tobacco control in the territories, which are self-governing in respect to health policy and require additional steps to benefit from coverage of international treaties such as the FCTC.
Dr Sarah Hill and Prof Linda Bauld presented key findings from the report to an audience of over 50 government advisors, public health experts, advocates, and local community leaders at an event jointly hosted by the Bermudan Government and PHE. As well as being attended by the Bermudan Minister of Health, whose opening address highlighted the importance of tobacco control for the territory’s population of 60,000, the event was covered by local media and broadcast on the government’s social media page.
The full report can accessed through the link below.
Funding
Funding sources include the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office (CSO), NIHR, MRC, CRUK, NIH, EU Horizon 2020.