Mapping Tobacco Industry Activities in Southeast Asia

A map of tobacco industry strategies in Southeast Asia was developed using a structured conceptualization methodology known as concept mapping. The map was used to develop a conceptual framework of tobacco industry tactics in four areas of Southeast Asia. Related goals are: 

• Generating consensus on key areas of importance and feasibility for regional and cross-country tobacco industry monitoring and surveillance
• Developing measures to track and monitor the effects of tobacco industry strategies and to design counter strategies
• Building capacity to improve tobacco control planning in participating countries

The process involved brainstorming, sorting and rating statements describing industry activities. A total of 31 participants were included from the four countries. The map shows eight clusters of industry activities within the four countries. These were arranged into four general sectors: economics, politics, public relations and deception. The map indicates areas of importance and feasibility for monitoring tobacco industry activities and serves as a basis for initial discussion about action-planning. Furthermore, the map is a critical tool in developing regional, cross-border strategies for tracking and surveillance, and the process of developing the map served as a mechanism for consensus building among different stakeholders and stakeholder agencies.

Web Center for Social Research Methods

Related Publications:
Trochim WM, Stillman FA, Clark PI, Schmitt CL. Development of a model of the tobacco industry's interference with tobacco control programmes. Tob Control. 2003 Jun;12(2):140-7. See article.