The Ministry of Heath has begun preparations to conduct the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) in Oman. A three member team from the Ministry attended a 5-day Orientation Training at the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, USA. The training covers all aspects of the survey including the adaptation of the standard questionnaire, sample design adaptation, and data management. Although Oman has some data about tobacco use, this will be the first survey that will obtain comprehensive information including the prevalence of tobacco use (both smoking and smokeless tobacco products) and second-hand smoke, cessation, knowledge, attitudes and perceptions and exposure of tobacco products in the media.
GATS is a nationally representative household survey that was launched in February 2007 as a new component of the ongoing Global Tobacco Surveillance System (GTSS). The GATS enables countries to collect data on adult tobacco use and key tobacco control measures. Results from the GATS assist countries in the formulation, tracking and implementation of effective tobacco control interventions, and countries are able to compare results of their survey with results from other countries.