Effect of Cigarette Pack Warnings and Packaging Among Young Adult Smokers

NCT03446170 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2014-1031
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 400
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The objective of this study is to examine whether cigarette packaging regulations including graphic health warning labels on cigarette packs and requiring plain, unbranded packaging reduce the appeal of cigarettes and prompt young adult smokers to quit.

Conditions

Tobacco Use

Keywords

Young adults; Cigarette smoking; Warning labels

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Cigarette purchase appeal

  The effects of graphic cigarette warnings and plain packaging on cigarette purchase appeal will be measured using data collected from a within-subjects experiment at baseline. Participants are randomly assigned to compare each pair of packs from the experimental conditions versus a standard branded control pack. For each pair, cigarette purchase appeal is measured with 5 valid questions assessing: 1) Which pack would you be most likely to buy? 2) Which pack is the most appealing? 3) Which pack attracts your attention? 4) Which pack contains cigarettes that are the most harmful to your health? 5) Which pack makes you think about the health risks of smoking?

  Baseline

• Motivation to quit smoking

  Motivation to quit smoking is measured using a valid scale comprised of 4 questions. Participants report how likely it is they will quit smoking completely, reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke, and talk to a friend, family member, or spouse/partner about quitting smoking. Participants respond using options for definitely will not, probably will not, probably will, or definitely will for each question.

  At the conclusion of the 4 week exposure

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Cigarette smoking behavior

  At the conclusion of the 4 week exposure, and at 1- and 3-months post-exposure

• Smoking quit attempts

  At the conclusion of the 4 week exposure, and at 1- and 3-months post-exposure

• Motivation to quit cigarette smoking.

  At 1-month and 3-months post-exposure

Study Arms (5)

Loss-framed, branded

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm use cigarette packs with loss-framed graphic warnings communicating the risks of smoking on branded packages.

Behavioral: Graphic cigarette warning labels, plain packaging

Loss-framed, plain

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm use cigarette packs with loss-framed graphic warnings communicating the risks of smoking on plain or standardized packages.

Behavioral: Graphic cigarette warning labels, plain packaging

Gain-framed, branded

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm use cigarette packs with gain-framed graphic warnings communicating the benefits of quitting smoking on branded packages.

Behavioral: Graphic cigarette warning labels, plain packaging

Gain-framed, plain

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to this arm use cigarette packs with gain-framed graphic warnings communicating the benefits of quitting smoking on plain or standardized packages.

Behavioral: Graphic cigarette warning labels, plain packaging

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to this arm use their regular cigarette packs and complete study measures only.

Interventions

Graphic cigarette warning labels, plain packaging BEHAVIORAL

This study tests the effects of graphic cigarette warning labels that include pictures and text, and plain or standardized packaging

Gain-framed, branded; Gain-framed, plain; Loss-framed, branded; Loss-framed, plain

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Ages 18 to 30 years
• Smoke at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime
• Now smoke cigarettes on all or some days
• Reside in the Washington, DC metro area
• Willing to send and receive text messages on a personal mobile phone

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Georgetown University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Georgetown University

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20007, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Johnson AC, Luta G, Tercyak KP, Niaura RS, Mays D. Effects of pictorial warning label message framing and standardized packaging on cigarette packaging appeal among young adult smokers. Addict Behav. 2021 Sep;120:106951. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106951. Epub 2021 Apr 13.

  PMID: 33895661 BACKGROUND

• Johnson AC, Turner MM, Simmens SJ, Evans WD, Strasser AA, Mays D. Mediational Effects on Motivation to Quit Smoking After Exposure to a Cigarette Pictorial Warning Label Among Young Adults. Ann Behav Med. 2022 Jul 12;56(7):737-748. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaab073.

  PMID: 34415010 BACKGROUND

• Johnson AC, Simmens SJ, Turner MM, Evans WD, Strasser AA, Mays D. Longitudinal effects of cigarette pictorial warning labels among young adults. J Behav Med. 2022 Feb;45(1):124-132. doi: 10.1007/s10865-021-00258-2. Epub 2021 Sep 23.

  PMID: 34554369 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tobacco Use; Cigarette Smoking

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Tobacco Smoking; Smoking

Study Officials

• Darren Mays, PhD, MPH

  Georgetown University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: The study tests the effects of graphic cigarette warning labels and packaging regulations, therefore it is unmasked.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: The experimental design is a 2 (graphic warning message framing: gain versus loss) by 2 (cigarette packaging: standardized, plain or branded) factorial design. An unexposed control group is also included.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 12, 2018
• First Posted: February 26, 2018
• Study Start: September 1, 2014
• Primary Completion: August 31, 2020
• Study Completion: August 31, 2020
• Last Updated: January 4, 2022

Record last verified: 2021-12

Locations

US (1)