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?
a.
1[ ]Yes
0[ ]No
b.
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
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 VariablesVariable Name | Variable ID | Variable Description | dbGaP Mapping | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertisement_Placement | ||||
PX741001120400 | Is there a cigarette ad (menthol or more | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Cigarettesmenthol | ||||
PX741001060200 | Which products are advertised outside the more | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Cigarettesnonmenthol | ||||
PX741001060100 | Which products are advertised outside the more | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Cigarillos | ||||
PX741001060300 | Which products are advertised outside the more | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Cigars | ||||
PX741001060400 | Which products are advertised outside the more | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Ecigarette | ||||
PX741001060600 | Which products are advertised outside the more | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Advertising_Smokeless | ||||
PX741001060500 | Which products are advertised outside the more | 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 | 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 | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cigarillos_Placement | ||||
PX741001130500 | Are there cigarillos/little cigars products more | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cigarillos_Promotions | ||||
PX741001130800 | Are there cigarillos/little cigars price more | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Cigarillos_Selfservice | ||||
PX741001130700 | Are there cigarillos/little cigars more | 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 | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Ecigarette_Crossproduct | ||||
PX741001160700 | Are there e-cigarettes cross-product more | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Smokeless_Crossproduct | ||||
PX741001150600 | Are there chew, moist/dry snuff, dip, or more | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Smokeless_Flavored | ||||
PX741001150200 | Are flavored chew, moist/dry snuff, dip, or more | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Smokeless_Placement | ||||
PX741001150300 | Are there chew, moist/dry snuff, dip, or more | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Smokeless_Promotions | ||||
PX741001150500 | Are there chew, moist/dry snuff, dip, or more | 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 | N/A | ||
PX741001_Standardized_Tobaccoassessment_Retailsettings_Store_SurveyOther | ||||
PX741001050200 | Can you survey the store? If not, then more | 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 |
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