Informing Policy through Tobacco Regulatory Science: An Evolving Process

Objective: We offer a perspective from which to evaluate and extend the role of science in evidence-based policy decision making. Method: We examine several issues for using tobacco regulatory science to inform public health policy. Results: A new approach may be needed to assess the weight of scientific evidence on topics relevant to tobacco regulation. Traditional data sources may be inadequate to estimate the impact of proposed rule-making on health behavior. Scientists must play an active role to ensure that evidence is considered in the rule-making process. Conclusions: Evidence-based policymaking requires that scientists communicate and synthesize relevant research, educate decision makers about scientific evidence, and estimate the impact of a policy on health and health behaviors. Additional actions for scientists are presented.