Who is sponsoring this study?
The Florida Department of Health is sponsoring this study.
What is the purpose of this study?
The purpose of the study is to better understand adults’ health and tobacco use of Florida residents. The Florida Department of Health will use this information to develop public education programs to improve the health of Florida residents.
What kinds of questions are you going to ask?
The survey questions are about health and tobacco, including use of tobacco products and exposure to secondhand smoke. The survey also includes questions on opinions and attitudes towards tobacco use and anti-tobacco media campaigns you may have seen on television or online. Also, the survey will ask demographic questions, such as age and education level.
How do I know this information will remain confidential?
The information that you provide will be kept confidential to the extent allowed by law. Your name and contact information, if collected, will be kept in a separate file from your responses to the survey questions. The answers provided will be combined with those from other participants. All project staff members are prohibited by law from using the information for anything other than this study. Any other use is a violation of Federal Law and is subject to heavy fines and imprisonment.
What is the Florida Department of Health going to be doing with these data?
The Florida Department of Health will use these data to better understand the health and tobacco use of Florida’s residents. This information will be used to develop public education programs that will improve the health of Floridians.
I cannot find my survey access code. How do I get a replacement?
If you are unable to locate your survey access code, you can do one of the following:
- Email FLHealthStudy@rti.org and provide your mailing address.
- Call Vaughn Armbrister at RTI International at 866-354-8310. If you leave a voicemail, please include your mailing address and phone number and Vaughn Armbrister will return your call within 3 business days to provide your access code.
How did you get my address?
Your address was randomly selected from a pool of addresses in Florida.
Is it mandatory for me to do the survey?
No. Participation in this study is completely voluntary. But it is important that we include your views and experiences. To ensure the accuracy of survey results, we need to complete surveys with as many eligible Florida residents as possible.
Why should I participate?
You were scientifically selected to represent thousands of other Florida residents who were not selected to participate. The information is used for planning purposes to develop more effective health programs. The more people we have participating (the higher the response rate), the more accurate the results will be. When a person doesn’t participate, it leaves a "hole" in the data.
I don’t want to participate. How can I be removed from future mailings?
Thank you for considering our survey. Many people find the survey interesting once they get started. You can start the survey and at any point if you’d like to stop, you can exit the survey.
If you would like to be removed from future mailings you can do one of the following:
- Email FLHealthStudy@rti.org and provide your survey access code or mailing address
- Call Vaughn Armbrister at RTI International at 866-354-8310. If you leave a voicemail, please include your survey access code or your mailing address.
I don’t do surveys.
We understand, but this is an important survey that helps to examine whether current health programs are beneficial and how they might be able to better serve Florida adult residents. We want to hear your views and experiences related to tobacco use and health.
I don’t have time.
We understand you are very busy. Our results would be incomplete if we only included people who could easily make the time to complete the survey. Your participation is critical to the success of this study. You can take the survey at a time that is convenient for you. The survey is available 24 hours a day.
How long will this take?
This survey takes about 10-15 minutes. You can also end the survey at any time, and you can complete the remainder of the survey at a time that is more convenient for you.
How long is this survey going on?
This part of the survey will go until July 11, 2024, but we will conduct surveys with Florida residents each year.
I’m not a Florida resident. Am I still eligible?
No, unfortunately we’re only surveying Florida residents. You can let us know that you’re not eligible for the survey, by doing one of the following:
- Enter your access code on the survey website (www.FLHealthSurvey.rti.org) and for the first question, select "I am not an adult and no eligible adults live in this household."
- Email FLHealthStudy@rti.org and provide your survey access code or mailing address.
- Call Vaughn Armbrister at RTI International at 866-354-8310. If you leave a voicemail, please include your survey access code or your mailing address.
The letter states that the adult in the household with the next birthday should complete the survey. Why can’t I complete the survey?
Our survey protocol calls for the survey to be completed by a randomly selected adult member of your household. This is done so that we can be sure that our study results represent all adults in Florida.
What do I get for participating in this survey?
This is your opportunity to tell us your views and experiences related to health and tobacco use. As a token of our appreciation, we have included $5 in the letter requesting your participation.
How do I return the $5 I received?
If you would like to return the $5, please place the bill in the postage-paid, addressed envelope we have provided or mail it to:
Florida Health Survey c/o Readex Research 2159 Curve Crest Blvd. W Stillwater, MN 55082
I completed the survey, but I haven't received my token of appreciation. When will I receive the token of appreciation?
Depending on how you complete the survey, your token of appreciation will be distributed as one of the following: an Amazon gift card, Visa gift card, or check. Amazon gift cards are sent by email within 1-2 weeks. Visa gift cards and checks are sent by mail within 4-6 weeks. If you have not received your token of appreciation in the timeframe listed above, please do one of the following:
- Call Vaughn Armbrister at RTI International at 866-354-8310. While we may not be available at that moment to assist you, we encourage you to leave a voicemail with your name, mailing address, how you completed the survey (i.e., online or by paper), and the token of appreciation you selected (e.g., check, gift card, gift code).
- Email FLHealthStudy@rti.org and provide your mailing address, how you completed the survey (i.e., online or by paper), and the token of appreciation you selected (e.g., check, gift card, gift code).
I received a Visa gift card as a token of appreciation, but I'm having trouble activating the card. Who can I call for assistance?
Please call the toll-free number listed on the back of the card to speak with a customer service representative. They will assist you with any questions or concerns regarding gift card activation.
I selected an Amazon gift code as my token of appreciation, but I haven't received it. When will I receive my Amazon gift code?
Please check your inbox and spam/junk mail folder for the Amazon gift code. The email will be sent from this email address: gc-orders@gc.email.amazon.com. If you cannot locate the email in your inbox or spam/junk folders, please do one of the following:
- Call Vaughn Armbrister at RTI International at 866-354-8310. If you leave a voicemail, please include your name and survey access code or mailing address.
- Email FLHealthStudy@rti.org and provide your survey access code or mailing address.
Doesn’t the government have better things to do with our tax dollars?
Your opinions are very important to the Florida Department of Health and your answers will help state government spend tax dollars more wisely.
How do I know the survey is legitimate? Where do I get more information?
You can call Vaughn Armbrister at RTI International at 866-354-8310 weekdays during normal working hours (9am to 5pm EST), to verify the legitimacy of the study. If you leave a voicemail, we will return your call within 3 business days.
I no longer smoke, so why should I participate?
We selected both non-smokers and smokers for this study. It’s important that we hear from Florida residents with different experiences and views on smoking and health
How can I get help with quitting? Where do I get free nicotine patches?
Tobacco Free Florida Quitline Phone: 1-877-822-6669 Website: www.tobaccofreeflorida.com
What is RTI International?
RTI International is an independent nonprofit research organization based in North Carolina. We are contracted with the Florida Department of Health to conduct the Florida Health Survey. You can learn more about the work that RTI does by visiting www.rti.org.