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State tobacco tax to fund programs supported  A poll released Jan. 7 shows the majority of South Carolina residents (70 percent) believe too little is spent on disease prevention research, and a large majority of adults (92 percent) believe the state tobacco settlement funds should be spent to find cures for, and treatment of, chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Seventy-one percent support an increase in the sales tax on tobacco products to be used for prevention research funding.  “The growing trend of prevention and health conscious living has been apparent,” said Harris Pastides, Ph.D., vice president for Research and Health Sciences from the University of South Carolina (USC). “This poll clearly illustrates the high commitment South Carolina residents have toward building a healthier community, even in times of fiscal crisis. Clearly, the citizens of this state see the importance of investing public funds in disease prevention, which will ultimately save lives, reduce suffering and save money.” According to Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., MUSC president, “These findings make it clear that the public wants more resources to be earmarked to support efforts that will eliminate health disparities and improve the quality of life all our citizens. South Carolina is well positioned to respond to their request through the collaborative efforts already underway between MUSC and USC in health promotion and disease prevention in such diverse areas as nutrition, diabetes, stroke and cancer research.” The South Carolina poll also revealed public support for other health-related research and funding: 96 percent of residents report disease prevention research, which focuses on diabetes should be a top/somewhat high priority and 81 percent report overweight- and obesity-focused research should be a top/somewhat high priority. 72 percent said it is very important to conduct medical or health research to understand and eliminate health disparities.  69 percent strongly/somewhat favor increasing the sales tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products to reduce the South Carolina State budget deficit.  73 percent strongly/somewhat favor a regulation to establish a smoke free environment in all public buildings. 81 percent favor a regulation in South Carolina requiring minimum standards of physical education in all public schools. “It is apparent from this poll that South Carolinians put a high priority on public health research,” said Robert McKeown, Ph.D., associate professor of epidem-iology and biostatistics at USC's Arnold School of Public Health. “The fruit of prevention research is reduction in disease and disability and enhanced health and well being. Effective prevention improves our quality of life and enables individuals to have a healthier, more active and productive future.”  “I am very pleased to see the strong support from South Carolinians for prevention research, and we welcome any opportunity to further this mission in the state.,” said Barbara Tilley, Ph.D., professor and chair, Department of Biometry and Epidemiology at MUSC. “These findings make it clear that making resources available for much needed public health research for chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes as well as conditions which lower the quality of life would make for popular public policy.” According to Mary Woolley, president, Research!America, “Prevention research helps improve our quality of life and enables individuals to have a healthier future. With adequate support, prevention research can be a crucial force in preventing disease and disability.”  Research!America's Prevention Research Initiative commissioned the poll in partnership with MUSC and the USC. Research!America is a non-for-profit, membership-supported public education and outreach alliance founded in 1989 to make medical and health research—including research to prevent disease, disability and injury and to promote health—a much higher national priority.  Harris Interactive conducted the poll by telephone within South Carolina with 801 adult residents ages 18 and over between June 9, 2003, and July 16, 2003.  The survey data were weighted by age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), household size and the number of telephone lines in the household to reflect the demographic composition of the South Carolina  population using the March 2002 Current Population Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau. The results have a statistical precision of plus or minus 4 percentage points of what they would be if the entire population of South Carolina had been polled with complete accuracy.  Harris Interactive, http://www.harrisinteractive.com, is a worldwide market research and consulting firm best known for The Harris Poll, and for pioneering the Internet method to conduct scientifically accurate market research. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, U.S.A., Harris Interactive combines proprietary methodologies and technology with expertise in predictive, custom and strategic research.  Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.