Interpersonal communication about pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages: Policy-related influences and relationships with smoking cessation attempts

This study evaluated the relationship between interpersonal communication about cigarette health warning labels (HWLs), psychological responses to HWLs, and smoking cessation attempts. Data were analyzed from online consumer panels of adult smokers in Australia, Canada and Mexico, during implementat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social science & medicine (1982) 2016-09, Vol.164, p.141-149
Main Authors: Thrasher, James F., Abad-Vivero, Erika N., Huang, Liling, O'Connor, Richard J., Hammond, David, Bansal-Travers, Maansi, Yong, Hua-Hie, Borland, Ron, Markovsky, Barry, Hardin, James
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Australia
Canada
Chi-Square Distribution
Cigarettes
Cognition
Communication
Descriptive labeling
Female
Health
Health Promotion - methods
Health warning labels
Humans
Internet
Interpersonal communication
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Mexico
Middle Aged
Policy
Polls & surveys
Product Labeling - methods
Product Labeling - standards
Public policy
Responses
Smokers - psychology
Smoking
Smoking cessation
Smoking Cessation - methods
Smoking Cessation - psychology
Tobacco
Tobacco Products - adverse effects
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Summary:This study evaluated the relationship between interpersonal communication about cigarette health warning labels (HWLs), psychological responses to HWLs, and smoking cessation attempts. Data were analyzed from online consumer panels of adult smokers in Australia, Canada and Mexico, during implementation of new pictorial health warning labels (HWLs) on cigarette packs. Approximately 1000 adult smokers were surveyed in each country every four months (September 2012, January 2013, May 2013, September 2013, January 2014). Only smokers followed for at least two waves were included in the analytic sample. Participants reported the frequency of talking about HWLs in the last month (in general, with family members, and with friends). For each country, poisson generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were estimated to assess the bivariate and adjusted correlates of talking about HWLs. Logistic GEE models regressed having attempted to quit by the subsequent wave on HWL talk, sociodemographics and psychological responses to HWLs. The frequency of HWL talk gradually decreased in Canada (48%–36%) after new HWLs were implemented; an increase (30%–58%) in Australia corresponded with implementation of new HWLs, after which talking stabilized; and the frequency of HWL talk in Mexico was stable over time, where new HWLs are implemented every six months. Talk about HWLs was an independent predictor of subsequent quit attempts in Canada (AOR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.11–2.02), Australia (AOR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.05–1.89), and Mexico (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.11–2.10), as was cognitive responses to HWLs (Australia AOR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.22–2.24; Canada AOR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.15–2.11; Mexico AOR = 1.30; 95% CI = 0.91–1.85). No interaction between talk and cognitive reactions to HWLs were found. These results suggest that interpersonal communication about HWLs influences smoking cessation attempts independent of other established predictors of smoking cessation, including cessation-related HWL responses. Future research should determine ways to catalyze interpersonal communication about HWLs and thereby potentiate HWL effects. •Many adult smokers report talking about cigarette health warning labels (HWLs).•Introduction of larger HWLs with novel content increased talking about HWLs.•Talk about HWLs appears to wear out over time, unless new HWL content is introduced.•Talk about HWLs is independently associated with subsequent attempts to quit smoking.•Strategies to promote talk about HWLs
ISSN:0277-9536
1873-5347
DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.05.042