Culture in Evaluation #2: Rural Tobacco Control Evaluation with Rural Populations Rural Residents as a Priority Population for Tobacco Control

Research has established that disparities exist among the rural population in terms of tobacco use prevalence, health status, economic consequences, and mortality, all resulting from tobacco use (Pokhrel et al., 2009; Stevens et al., 2010). A high risk of exposure to secondhand smoke and the lack of access to appropriate services and resources also predominate within rural communities (Pokhrel et al., 2009). This cultural competency tool thus focuses on the disproportionate effects of tobacco use among rural populations and offers some strategies for researching and conducting evaluations with this diverse population.