Communicating Smoking Risks Through Graphic Warning Labels

Communicating Smoking Risks Through Graphic Warning Labels

Smoking is the largest preventable health risk in the U.S. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2010 mandated the placement of larger pictorial warnings on cigarette packs as well as nine new statements of smoking risks. This trial tests the effectiveness of the warnings proposed by the Food and Drug Administration by providing cigarettes with the proposed labels to 320 smokers across two sites (Philadelphia, PA and Columbus, OH). In addition, the trial tests the effects of different warning label components.

Inclusion Criteria:

• smoke between 5 and 40 cigarettes per day and 100 in lifetime
• Not currently trying to quit
• between 18 and 65 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

• smokes 120's or roll-your own or noncommercial cigarettes
• pregnant or breastfeeding
• history of substance abuse past 5 years
• more than 25 standard alcohol drinks per week
• use of other nicotine products, such as cigars, nicotine gum
• current treatment for copd, cancer, pulmonary disease, alcohol/drug dependence
• current treatment for a psychiatric condition
• physical/visual/mental impairment that prevents reading from a computer screen
• not US resident
• unable to read English
• English not main language
• other member of household in study
• friend who smokes in study
• unable to attend weekly appointments between 9 am and 6 pm Monday-Friday
• unable to use hand-held computer to enter daily mood ratings