aReasons for ineligibility were not mutually exclusive; therefore, a participant could be ineligible for more t
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) calls upon countries to implement evidence-based strategies to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-attributable morbidity and mortality (World Health never Organization [WHO], 2003). Here, we review FCTC Articles 20, 21, and 22, which call for strong monitoring of the tobacco epidemic, information exchange, and collaboration among Parties and other relevant organizations (Tables 1�C3). Table 1. Article 20: Research, Surveillance, and Exchange of Information Table 3. Article 22: Cooperation in the Scientific, Technical, and Legal Fields and Provision of Related Expertise Table 2.

Article 21: Reporting and Exchange of Information More specifically, Article 20 calls initially for ��research that addresses determinants and consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke as well as research for identification of alternative crops.�� It also requires ��programmes for national, regional, and global surveillance of the magnitude, patterns, determinants, and consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke�� and for parties to establish and maintain ��an updated database of laws and regulations on tobacco control and, as appropriate, information about their enforcement, as well as pertinent jurisprudence, and cooperate in the development of programmes for regional and global tobacco control.�� Article 21 (section 1d) requires nations to provide regular updates on surveillance and research, as specified in Article 20.

When properly enacted, Articles 20 and 21 will ensure that data are available to provide feedback to countries on the relative effectiveness of programs and policies. Article 22 is fundamentally about knowledge transfer and capacity building within the network of FCTC Parties. Thus, Parties are required to cooperate and collaborate with each other in order to facilitate ��the transfer of technical, scientific and legal expertise and technology�� that will allow countries to effectively implement the Article. More specifically, the Article requires the ��facilitation of the development, transfer and acquisition of technology, knowledge, skills, capacity and expertise related to tobacco control,�� along with the provision of expertise and training needed to develop and implement FCTC policies.

In addition, specific mention is made of identifying and promoting tobacco control methods, including tobacco treatment. Policy makers may lack the scientific background to assess the quality and implications of scientific data (Koplan & Mackay, 2012). They can also be influenced by tobacco industry representatives and the general public, who can be misinformed. Drug_discovery Thus, while systems exist to generate high-quality data, we also need to understand if and how the information they generate can be optimally disseminated, as called for by Article 22.