The potential impact of plain packaging of cigarette products among Brazilian young women: an experimental study

BMC Public Health

Geoffrey T Fong²  James F Thrasher³  David Hammond¹  Christine M White¹ 

[1] School of Public Health & Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada;Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada;Departamento de Investigaciones sobre Tabaco, Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Mexico

关键词: Health policy;    Marketing;    Packaging;    Tobacco;   

Others  :  1163154
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-12-737

 received in 2011-12-19, accepted in 2012-08-13,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Tobacco use is responsible for 5.4 million deaths every year worldwide and is a leading cause of preventable death. The burden of these deaths is rapidly shifting to low and middle-income countries, such as Brazil. Brazil has prohibited most forms of tobacco advertising; however, the cigarette pack remains a primary source of marketing. The current study examined how tobacco packaging influences brand appeal and perceptions of health risk among young women in Brazil.

Methods

A between-subjects experiment was conducted in which 640 Brazilian women aged 16–26 participated in an online survey. Participants were randomized to view 10 cigarette packages according to one of three experimental conditions: standard branded packages, the same packs without brand imagery (“plain packaging”), or the same packs without brand imagery or descriptors (e.g., flavors). Participants rated packages on perceived appeal, taste, health risk, smoothness, and smoker attributes. Finally, participants were shown a range of branded and plain packs from which they could select one as a free gift, which constituted a behavioral measure of appeal.

Results

Branded packs were rated as significantly more appealing, better tasting, and smoother on the throat than plain packs. Branded packs were also associated with a greater number of positive smoker attributes including style and sophistication, and were perceived as more likely to be smoked by females than the plain packs. Removing descriptors from the plain packs further decreased the ratings of appeal, taste and smoothness, and also reduced associations with positive attributes. In the pack offer, participants were three times more likely to select branded packs than plain packs.

Conclusions

Plain packaging and removal of descriptors may reduce the appeal of smoking for youth and young adults, and consequently reduce smoking susceptibility. Overall, the findings provide support for plain packaging regulations, such as those in Australia.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 White et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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