Protocol - Standardized Tobacco Assessment for Retail Settings

Description

The observational assessment from the Standardized Tobacco Assessment for Retail Settings (STARS) 1.0 survey includes 17 items for an observer to complete in stores that sell tobacco products, such as convenience stores, gas stations, supermarkets, and pharmacies.

Specific Instructions

The Working Group (WG) recommends that Toolkit users refer to the Standardized Tobacco Assessment for Retail Settings (STARS) training PowerPoint when selecting this measure. The training PowerPoint document can be found at either the website for the National Cancer Institute’s State and Community Tobacco Control Initiative or the Store Assessment Tools section of the Counter Tobacco website.

The WG recommends that when investigators are asking questions about e-cigarettes or electronic smoking devices, they consider providing study participants with specific examples of devices of interest and clarify which attributes. For instance, do they care about all types of electronic smoking devices or just some of them (e.g., tank systems, vapor pens, vapes, e‑hookah, e-cigars)? Do they care whether they are disposable or rechargeable devices and whether they contain nicotine, do not contain nicotine, or either? As new products emerge, investigators should consider their inclusion as well.

Protocol

1. Date of visit: ________ Start Time: ________ End Time: ________

2. Coder Name/ID: ________________________________________

3. Store Name/ID: _________________________________________

1[ ]Store name matches assigned name

4. Store Address: _________________________________________

1[ ]Actual address matches assigned address

5. Can you survey this store? [If not, then select an option below and STOP.]

1[ ]Yes, I can

2[ ]No, store does not exist

3[ ]No, store is closed

4[ ]No, under 18 not allowed to enter

5[ ]No, membership or fee required to enter

6[ ]No, environment unsafe for me

7[ ]No, asked to leave before completing the survey

8[ ]Other (specify):

EXTERIOR

6. Which products are advertised outside the store (on windows/doors, building, sidewalk, or elsewhere)?

a. Cigarettes - non-menthol	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No
b. Cigarettes - menthol	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No
c. Cigarillos/little cigars	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No
d. Large cigars	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No
e. Chew, moist or dry snuff, dip, or snus	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No
f. E-cigarettes	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No

INTERIOR

7. Store Type: (Choose one)

1[ ]Convenience store with or without gas (e.g., 7-Eleven, Exxon, Wawa)

2[ ]Drug store/pharmacy (e.g., Walgreens, Rite Aid, Duane Reade)

3[ ]Beer, wine, or liquor store (e.g., ABC)

4[ ]Grocery store (e.g., small market/deli/produce market) or supermarket (e.g., Stop & Shop, Harris Teeter, Albertson’s)

5[ ]Mass merchandiser (e.g., WalMart, Costco, BJ’s, Sam’s Club) or discount store (e.g., Dollar General, Family Dollar)

6[ ]Tobacco shop (e.g., Cigarettes Cheaper, cigar shops, hookah bars, e-cigarette shops, or other tobacco shops)

7[ ]Other (specify): ______________________________ (e.g., donut shop, bait & tackle)

8. Any tobacco products sold here (i.e., cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos/little cigars, chew, moist or dry snuff, dip, snus, or e-cigarettes)?

(Choose one)

1[ ]Yes and visible to customers

2[ ]Yes, but not visible to customers

0[ ]No [STOP if focusing on tobacco retailers]

9. Does the store have a pharmacy counter?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

10. Alcoholic beverages sold here?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

11. Does store display a graphic health warning sign?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

12. Answer these questions about cigarettes.

a. Any cigarettes sold here?	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No
b. Menthol cigarettes sold here?	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No
c. Any cigarettes (menthol or non-menthol) within 12 inches of toys, candy, gum, slushy/ soda machines, or ice cream?	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No
d. Cigarette ad (menthol or non-menthol) within 3 feet of the floor?	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No
e. Any cigarette price promotions?	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No
f. Any menthol cigarette price promotions?	1[ ]Yes	0[ ]No

OTHER PRODUCTS

13. Cigarillos/little Cigars

14. Large cigars

15. Chew, moist/dry snuff, dip, or snus

16. E-cigarettes

a. Sold here?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

b. Flavored products?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

c. Singles sold here?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

d. Advertised for less than $1?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

e. Product within 12 inches of toys, candy, gum, slushy/soda machines, or ice cream?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

f. Product ad within 3 feet of floor?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

g. Self-service display?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

h. Any price promotions?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

i. Cross-product promotion with cigarettes?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

17. WIC and/or SNAP (i.e., food stamps, EBT) accepted here?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

PRICES

18. Cheapest cigarette pack

19. Newport menthol

(regular hard pack)

20. Blu disposable e-cigarette

(menthol)

a. Sold here?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

[if cigarettes not sold here, skip to Q.20]

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

b. Enter single pack/item price:

$_ _._ _

c. Sales tax included?

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

1[ ]Yes

0[ ]No

d. How was the price obtained?

1[ ]Cashier provided price

2[ ]Advertised price

0[ ]Unable to determine (e.g., only cartons sold)

1[ ]Cashier provided price

2[ ]Advertised price

0[ ]Sold here but price unavailable

1[ ]Cashier provided price

2[ ]Advertised price

0[ ]Sold here but price unavailable

Availability

Available

Download PDF

Personnel and Training Required

See "Specific Instructions."

Equipment Needs

None.

Requirements

Requirement Category	Required
Major equipment	No
Specialized training	No
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection	No
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual	No

Mode of Administration

Observational assessment

Lifestage

Participants

Not applicable.

Selection Rationale

The Standardized Tobacco Assessment for Retail Settings (STARS) survey is a user-friendly protocol comprising reliable measures used in prior store-observation studies. It was developed for the National Cancer Institute’s State and Community Tobacco Control Initiative by the Retail Environment Working Group, with additional support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Epidemiology Branch. The tool was developed through a collaboration of public health departments, researchers, public health attorneys, federal partners, and tobacco-control advocacy organizations. STARS was designed for practitioners to inform state and local tobacco control policies for the point of sale. The survey was designed for use by self-trained youth and adults. It was selected because of its reliability, user-friendly format, and short completion time. The survey was pilot tested in six states at approximately 500 stores and should take, on average, 9-10 minutes to complete.

Language

English

Standards

Standard	Name	ID	Source
caDSR Form	PhenX PX741001 - Standardized Tobacco Assessment For Retail Settings	6255076	caDSR Form

Derived Variables

None.

Process and Review

Not applicable.

Protocol Name from Source

Standardized Tobacco Assessment for Retail Settings (STARS), Version 1.0

Source

Standardized Tobacco Assessment for Retail Settings (STARS) survey, Version 1.0. (2014).

Download STARS at the National Cancer Institute’s State and Community Tobacco Control Initiative website or the Store Assessment Tools section of the Counter Tobacco website.

General References

None

Protocol ID

741001

Variables

Export Variables

Variable Name	Variable ID	Variable Description	dbGaP Mapping
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertisement_Placement
	PX741001120400	Is there a cigarette ad (menthol or more non-menthol) within 3 feet of the floor? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Cigarettesmenthol
	PX741001060200	Which products are advertised outside the more store (on windows/doors, building, sidewalk, or elsewhere)? Cigarettes - menthol show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Cigarettesnonmenthol
	PX741001060100	Which products are advertised outside the more store (on windows/doors, building, sidewalk, or elsewhere)? Cigarettes - non-menthol show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Cigarillos
	PX741001060300	Which products are advertised outside the more store (on windows/doors, building, sidewalk, or elsewhere)? Cigarillos/little cigars show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Cigars
	PX741001060400	Which products are advertised outside the more store (on windows/doors, building, sidewalk, or elsewhere)? Large cigars show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Ecigarette
	PX741001060600	Which products are advertised outside the more store (on windows/doors, building, sidewalk, or elsewhere)? E-cigarettes show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Smokeless
	PX741001060500	Which products are advertised outside the more store (on windows/doors, building, sidewalk, or elsewhere)? Chew, moist or dry snuff, dip, or snus show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Alcohol_Sales
	PX741001100000	Is alcoholic beverages sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cheapest_Price
	PX741001180200	What is the price of the cheapest cigarette pack?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cheapest_Pricing
	PX741001180400	How was the price obtained?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cheapest_Sales
	PX741001180100	Is the cheapest cigarette pack sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cheapest_Salestax
	PX741001180300	Is sales tax included in the price?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cigarillos
	PX741001130100	Are cigarillos/little cigars sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cigarillos_Ad
	PX741001130600	Are there cigarillos/little cigars product more ads within 3 feet of the floor? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cigarillos_Flavored
	PX741001130200	Are flavored cigarillos/little cigars sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cigarillos_Onedollar
	PX741001130400	Are there cigarillos/little cigars more advertised for less than $1? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cigarillos_Placement
	PX741001130500	Are there cigarillos/little cigars products more within 12 inches of toys, candy, gum, slushy/soda machines, or ice cream? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cigarillos_Promotions
	PX741001130800	Are there cigarillos/little cigars price more promotions? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cigarillos_Selfservice
	PX741001130700	Are there cigarillos/little cigars more self-service displays? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cigarillos_Singles
	PX741001130300	Are single cigarillos/little cigars sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Coder_Name
	PX741001020000	What is the name/ID of the coder?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Ecigarette
	PX741001160100	Are e-cigarettes sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Ecigarette_Ad
	PX741001160400	Are there e-cigarettes product ads within 3 more feet of the floor? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Ecigarette_Crossproduct
	PX741001160700	Are there e-cigarettes cross-product more promotions with cigarettes? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Ecigarette_Flavored
	PX741001160200	Are flavored e-cigarettes sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Ecigarette_Placement
	PX741001160300	Are there e-cigarettes products within 12 more inches of toys, candy, gum, slushy/soda machines, or ice cream? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Ecigarette_Promotions
	PX741001160600	Are there e-cigarettes price promotions?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Ecigarette_Selfservice
	PX741001160500	Are there e-cigarettes self-service displays?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Foodstamps_Snap
	PX741001170200	Is SNAP (i.e., food stamps, EBT) accepted here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Foodstamps_Wic
	PX741001170100	Is WIC (i.e., food stamps, EBT) accepted here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Health_Warning
	PX741001110000	Does the store display a graphic health more warning sign? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Largecigars
	PX741001140100	Are large cigars sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Largecigars_Ad
	PX741001140400	Are there large cigars product ads within 3 more feet of the floor? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Largecigars_Flavored
	PX741001140200	Are flavored large cigars sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Largecigars_Placement
	PX741001140300	Are there large cigars products within 12 more inches of toys, candy, gum, slushy/soda machines, or ice cream? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Largecigars_Selfservice
	PX741001140500	Are there large cigars self-service displays?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Menthol_Promotions
	PX741001120600	Are there any menthol cigarette price promotions	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Newport_Price
	PX741001190200	What is the price of a pack of Newport menthols?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Newport_Price
	PX741001200200	What is the price of a Blu disposable e-cigarette?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Newport_Pricing
	PX741001190400	How was the price obtained?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Newport_Pricing
	PX741001200400	How was the price obtained?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Newport_Sales
	PX741001190100	Are Newport menthol cigarettes sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Newport_Sales
	PX741001200100	Are Blu disposable e-cigarettes sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Newport_Salestax
	PX741001190300	Is sales tax included in the price?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Newport_Salestax
	PX741001200300	Is sales tax included in the price?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Pharmacy_Presence
	PX741001090000	Does the store have a pharmacy counter?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Price_Promotions
	PX741001120500	Are there any cigarette price promotions?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Product_Visibility
	PX741001080000	Are any tobacco products sold here (i.e., more cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos/little cigars, chew, moist or dry snuff, dip, snus, or e-cigarettes)? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Sales_Anycigarettes
	PX741001120100	Are any cigarettes sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Sales_Cigaretteswithin
	PX741001120300	Are any cigarettes (menthol or non-menthol) more within 12 inches of toys, candy, gum, slushy/soda machines, or ice cream? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Sales_Mentholcigarettes
	PX741001120200	Are menthol cigarettes sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Smokeless
	PX741001150100	Are chew, moist/dry snuff, dip, or snus sold here?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Smokeless_Ad
	PX741001150400	Are there chew, moist/dry snuff, dip, or more snus product ads within 3 feet of the floor? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Smokeless_Crossproduct
	PX741001150600	Are there chew, moist/dry snuff, dip, or more snus cross-product promotions with cigarettes? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Smokeless_Flavored
	PX741001150200	Are flavored chew, moist/dry snuff, dip, or more snus sold here? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Smokeless_Placement
	PX741001150300	Are there chew, moist/dry snuff, dip, or more snus products within 12 inches of toys, candy, gum, slushy/soda machines, or ice cream? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Smokeless_Promotions
	PX741001150500	Are there chew, moist/dry snuff, dip, or more snus price promotions? show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Store_Address
	PX741001040100	What is the store address?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Store_Addressmatch
	PX741001040200	Does the actual address match the assigned address	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Store_Name
	PX741001030100	What is the name/ID of the store?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Store_Namematch
	PX741001030200	Does the store name match the assigned name?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Store_Survey
	PX741001050100	Can you survey the store? If not, then more select an option below and STOP. show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Store_SurveyOther
	PX741001050200	Can you survey the store? If not, then more select an option below and STOP. show less	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Store_Type
	PX741001070100	What type of store is this?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Store_TypeOther
	PX741001070201	What type of store is this?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Store_TypeOtherValue
	PX741001070202	What type of store is this?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Visit_Date
	PX741001010100	What is the date of the visit?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Visit_Endtime
	PX741001010300	What is the end time of the visit?	N/A
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Visit_Starttime
	PX741001010200	What is the start time of the visit?	N/A

Tobacco Regulatory Research: Vector

Measure Name

Standardized Tobacco Assessment for Retail Settings

Release Date

June 24, 2015

Definition

A surveillance instrument for observational measures of point-of-sale tobacco marketing, including product availability, advertising, promotions, and price.

Purpose

The purpose of this measure is to conduct systematic observations of tobacco marketing at the point of sale in order to assess the availability of tobacco products, as well as advertising, promotions, and prices.

Keywords

standardized tobacco assessment for retail settings, Point-of-sale marketing, availability, advertising, promotions, Price, standardized tobacco assessment for retail settings, STARS, Tobacco product advertisements, tobacco, product advertisements, Advertisements, marketing, tobacco products, e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems, ENDS

Measure Protocols

Protocol ID	Protocol Name
741001	Standardized Tobacco Assessment for Retail Settings

Publications

Garcia-Cazarin, M.L., Mandal, R.J., Grana, R., Wanke, K.L., Meissner, H. (2020) Host-agent-vector-environment measures for electronic cigarette research used in NIH grants. Tobacco Control. 2020 January; 29(1). doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-054032

Henriksen, L., et al. (2019) Mind the Gap: Changes in Cigarette Prices after California's Tax Increase. Tobacco Regulatory Science. 2019 November; 5(6): 532-540. doi: 10.18001/TRS.5.6.5

Henriksen, L., et al. (2016) Standardized Tobacco Assessment for Retail Settings (STARS): dissemination and implementation research. Tobacco Control. 2016 October; 25(Suppl 1): i67-i74. doi: 10.1136/tobaccorcontrol-2016-053076

Protocol - Standardized Tobacco Assessment for Retail Settings

Related Protocols:

Essential Protocols:

Description

Specific Instructions

Protocol

Availability

Personnel and Training Required

Equipment Needs

Requirements

Mode of Administration

Lifestage

Participants

Selection Rationale

Language

Standards

Derived Variables

Process and Review

Protocol Name from Source

Source

General References

Protocol ID

Variables

Measure Name

Release Date

Definition

Purpose

Keywords

Measure Protocols

Publications