Alice Mannocci1, Vittoria Colamesta2, Daniele Mipatrini2, Gabriele Messina3, Maria Rosaria Gualano4, Francesco Gianfagna5, G Boccia6, Elisa Langiano7, Nicola Nicolotti8, Giovanni Veronesi9, Roberta Siliquini4, Elisabetta De Vito7, Giuseppe La Torre2. 1. Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: alice.mannocci@uniroma1.it. 2. Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy. 3. Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Area of Public Health, Siena, Italy. 4. Department of Public Health Sciences and Pediatrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy. 5. Research Centre in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy; Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo NEUROMED, Pozzilli, Italy. 6. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. 7. Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, Italy. 8. Medical Direction, Local Health Unit 1, Massa and Carrara, Tuscany, Italy. 9. Research Centre in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Tobacco packaging represents an important form of promotion of tobacco products and for this reason plain packaging (PP) can be considered an additional tobacco control measure. In Italy the current tobacco packaging is branded with textual warnings. The study investigated the perception of PP with textual warnings (PPTWs) and pictorial warnings (PPPWs) in Italy. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: The study was conducted on adults who were current, never and former smokers. The participants watched out three types of packages (current packaging, PPTWs and PPPWs) and eight pictorial warnings, and indicated which they considered the most effective ones to motivate smoking cessation or reduction and to prevent the onset. RESULTS: 1065 subjects were recruited. The PPPWs were considered the most effective in motivating to quit, reduce and prevent the smoking habits (ranged 83.4%-96.1%) in all tobacco users and age groups (≤40/>40 years) (P < 0.005). In general PP does not seem to be very effective in quitting for three-quarters of the smokers and 60% declared that they would have still started smoking with PP. The younger group believed less than the older one that PP gives a motivation to quit (29.4% vs 39.1%, P = 0.002). The pictures perceived as most effective in communicating the smoking effects were lung cancer and gangrene (about one-third of the sample). CONCLUSIONS: The textual warnings on tobacco products are a measure of control now outdated. Countries still using them should consider the idea of replace them with pictorial warnings that seem to be more effective. It is also desirable in the near future that these countries introduce the PPPWs.
OBJECTIVES:Tobacco packaging represents an important form of promotion of tobacco products and for this reason plain packaging (PP) can be considered an additional tobacco control measure. In Italy the current tobacco packaging is branded with textual warnings. The study investigated the perception of PP with textual warnings (PPTWs) and pictorial warnings (PPPWs) in Italy. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: The study was conducted on adults who were current, never and former smokers. The participants watched out three types of packages (current packaging, PPTWs and PPPWs) and eight pictorial warnings, and indicated which they considered the most effective ones to motivate smoking cessation or reduction and to prevent the onset. RESULTS: 1065 subjects were recruited. The PPPWs were considered the most effective in motivating to quit, reduce and prevent the smoking habits (ranged 83.4%-96.1%) in all tobacco users and age groups (≤40/>40 years) (P < 0.005). In general PP does not seem to be very effective in quitting for three-quarters of the smokers and 60% declared that they would have still started smoking with PP. The younger group believed less than the older one that PP gives a motivation to quit (29.4% vs 39.1%, P = 0.002). The pictures perceived as most effective in communicating the smoking effects were lung cancer and gangrene (about one-third of the sample). CONCLUSIONS: The textual warnings on tobacco products are a measure of control now outdated. Countries still using them should consider the idea of replace them with pictorial warnings that seem to be more effective. It is also desirable in the near future that these countries introduce the PPPWs.
Authors: Ann McNeill; Shannon Gravely; Sara C Hitchman; Linda Bauld; David Hammond; Jamie Hartmann-Boyce Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2017-04-27
Authors: Su Hyun Park; Dustin T Duncan; Omar El Shahawy; Jenni A Shearston; Lily Lee; Kosuke Tamura; Scott E Sherman; Michael Weitzman Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2017-11-01 Impact factor: 4.244