TRC Research Funding

Announcement of the Tobacco Control Research Projects for 2018-2019

The Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center (TRC), with support from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, has a policy to promote and support academic research, especially research that informs changes in national policy and that contributes to multi-sector campaigns in response to the treaty obligations for the control of tobacco in Thailand based on the World Health Organization-FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control WHO: FCTC) in the context of Thai society.

1. Important Tobacco Control Research Projects will focus on the following six areas:

  1. Tax measures for the control of tobacco consumption
  2. Measures for the control of illicit trade
  3. Measures for the control of electronic cigarettes
  4. Measures for the prevention of smoking initiation
  5. Smoking cessation measures
  6. Monitoring and evaluation of the enforcement of the Tobacco Product Control Act (B.E. 2560)

Each of the research project areas consists of various research questions as follows:

  1. Research issues in tax measures for the control of tobacco consumption
    • The effects of tax re-structuring including adjustment of the excise tax rates in the Excise Tax Act (B.E. 2560)
    • The effects and adjustments of tobacco industries within the country and in foreign countries
    • Effects on tobacco growers
    • Effects on tobacco consumption, such as smoking initiation, brand-switching, change of product types such as hand-rolled or illegal tobacco products
  2. The elasticity of demand of different types of tobacco based on price change and impacts on various populations
  3. Guidelines for the tax rate adjustment of hand-rolled and other tobacco products
    • The health effects of smoking hand-rolled tobacco compared with smoking other tobacco products
    • The proportion of production, distribution and consumption of various types of shredded tobacco
  4. Study of permission of tobacco sales at retail, limiting access to tobacco retail stores in various countries and the effects of access to retail stores on the consumption of tobacco among Thai youth

2. Research issues in measures for the control of illicit trade

  • Assess the situation regarding prevention of illegal sales of tobacco in Thailand, according to the Protocol on the Elimination of Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products of the World Health Organization
  • Study the monitoring system and investigation of tobacco trafficking (tracking and tracing system) in other countries and analyze the appropriate guidelines for Thailand
  • The estimated amount and value of illegal cigarettes in Thailand with comparisons based on various methodologies
  • The relationship between tax rate adjustments in Thailand and smuggling in the tobacco trade. How much does it take to make the tax measures less effective than they should be? What is the proportion?
  • Survey of smoking behaviors and import of smuggled tobacco products at port of entry comparing foreign and Thai tourists
  1. Research issues in Electronic Cigarette control measures
    • Perception and accessibility of new types of electronic cigarettes in youth groups
    • Review of vapor composition of electronic cigarettes and their health impacts
    • Review of whether the electronic cigarette is actually an aid in quitting smoking
    • Review of electronic cigarette control measures in various countries
    • Survey of electronic cigarette use in various populations in Thailand
    • The effect of electronic cigarettes on smoking initiation and smoking cessation in Thailand
  2. Research issues in measures for the prevention of smoking initiation
    • Monitor and assess law enforcement on issues related to youth, such as no tobacco sales to minors under 20, no single stick sales, no CSR and controlling new forms of tobacco products.
    • Analyze the factors causing ineffective law enforcement, in terms of banning smoking and restricting youth access to tobacco products
    • Study the effects of smoking on child development and the health of children in families with smokers
    • Study the physical factors, communities, and social culture that contributes to youth smoking initiation
    • Study the new tactics and strategies of the tobacco industry that lures youth into smoking.
    • Effective communication so youth understand and can out-smart tobacco industry marketing strategies regarding new tobacco products and their harms
    • Preventing access to the tobacco product cycle among urban and rural youth in the groups with high tobacco problems.
    • Effects of access to retail shops on youth smoking behavior
  1. Research issues in smoking cessation measures
    • Monitoring, assessing, and lessons-learned from the project “3 years – 3 million quit smoking throughout Thailand”
    • Assessment, screening and access to the quit smoking service of the health service system of the risk- group population
    • Integration of smoking cessation into different community levels through district and sub-district hospitals
    • Integration of smoking cessation into risk areas such as prisons, workers’ camps, and crowded communities through targeting them by the Health Service System
    • Comparing the effectiveness of various forms of smoking cessation in Thailand
    • Comparing the effectiveness of smoking cessation provided by health professionals versus other groups who have been trained to provide assistance in smoking cessation
  1. Monitoring and evaluation of the enforcement of the Tobacco Product Control Act (B.E. 2560)
    • Assessment of law enforcement at community levels – at district – provincial level regarding the main points: selling single sticks, point of sale, sale of cigarettes to youth under 20 years of age, smoke-free public places, and implementation mechanism of the provincial board of tobacco control
    • Progress on the control and disclosure of ingredients in tobacco product components in Thailand