IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i22p4435-d286132.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Eye Tracking Study of Anti-Smoking Messages on Toxic Chemicals in Cigarettes

Author

Listed:
  • Leah M. Ranney

    (Department of Family Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 590 Manning Drive, CB# 7595, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Sarah D. Kowitt

    (Department of Family Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 590 Manning Drive, CB# 7595, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Tara L. Queen

    (Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Manning Drive, CB# 7295, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Kristen L. Jarman

    (Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Manning Drive, CB# 7295, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Adam O. Goldstein

    (Department of Family Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 590 Manning Drive, CB# 7595, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
    Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Manning Drive, CB# 7295, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

Abstract

The US Food and Drug Administration is tasked with communicating information to the public about the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. Our study used eye tracking method to test the effectiveness of messages about the harmful chemicals in cigarettes smoke among adult smokers. A sample size of 211 current cigarette smokers viewed four communication messages that included: Health effects of a chemical in cigarette smoke and an image depicting the health effect. The messages focused on arsenic, formaldehyde, uranium, and general health. Eye tracking recorded the length of time participants viewed the text and the image. After each message, the participants were asked about the messages’ effectiveness in changing attitudes towards smoking. We analyzed the data using multilevel modeling, and of the 211 smokers, 59.7% were female, 36.5% were Black, and 21.3% had a high school degree or less. Compared to the general message, the messages about formaldehyde and uranium were more discouraging to smoking ( p < 0.05). Messages about formaldehyde were more believable and made participants want to quit more than the general messages. Increasing message dose was significantly associated with discouraging participants from smoking and made participants want to quit ( p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that anti-smoking messages, containing chemical information, can successfully increase negative attitudes toward smoking cigarettes and potentially encourage quitting.

Suggested Citation

  • Leah M. Ranney & Sarah D. Kowitt & Tara L. Queen & Kristen L. Jarman & Adam O. Goldstein, 2019. "An Eye Tracking Study of Anti-Smoking Messages on Toxic Chemicals in Cigarettes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-12, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:22:p:4435-:d:286132
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/22/4435/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/22/4435/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Li-Ling Huang & Allison J. Lazard & Jessica K. Pepper & Seth M. Noar & Leah M. Ranney & Adam O. Goldstein, 2017. "Impact of The Real Cost Campaign on Adolescents’ Recall, Attitudes, and Risk Perceptions about Tobacco Use: A National Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, January.
    2. Noar, Seth M. & Francis, Diane B. & Bridges, Christy & Sontag, Jennah M. & Ribisl, Kurt M. & Brewer, Noel T., 2016. "The impact of strengthening cigarette pack warnings: Systematic review of longitudinal observational studies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 118-129.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maria Neufeld & Carina Ferreira-Borges & Jürgen Rehm, 2020. "Implementing Health Warnings on Alcoholic Beverages: On the Leading Role of Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-20, November.
    2. Evans, Keith S. & Teisl, Mario F. & Lando, Amy. M. & Liu, Sherry T., 2020. "Risk perceptions and food-handling practices in the home," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    3. Yvonne Laird & Fiona Myers & Garth Reid & John McAteer, 2019. "Tobacco Control Policy in Scotland: A Qualitative Study of Expert Views on Successes, Challenges and Future Actions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-12, July.
    4. Sarah D. Kowitt & Allison J. Lazard & Tara L. Queen & Seth M. Noar & Adam O. Goldstein, 2018. "Adolescents’ Aided Recall of Targeted and Non-Targeted Tobacco Communication Campaigns in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-15, October.
    5. Trinidad Beleche & Nellie Lew & Rosemarie L. Summers & J. Laron Kirby, 2018. "Are Graphic Warning Labels Stopping Millions of Smokers? A Comment on Huang, Chaloupka, and Fong," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 15(2), pages 129–157-1, May.
    6. Kuehnle, Daniel, 2019. "How effective are pictorial warnings on tobacco products? New evidence on smoking behaviour using Australian panel data," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Dirk-Jan A. van Mourik & Math J. J. M. Candel & Gera E. Nagelhout & Marc C. Willemsen & Hua-Hie Yong & Bas van den Putte & Geoffrey T. Fong & Hein de Vries, 2019. "How the New European Union’s (Pictorial) Tobacco Health Warnings Influence Quit Attempts and Smoking Cessation: Findings from the 2016–2017 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Netherlands Surveys," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-15, November.
    8. Alexa R. Romberg & Shreya Tulsiani & Jennifer M. Kreslake & Erin J. Miller Lo & Bethany Simard & Amy Rask & Shruthi V. Arismendez & Donna M. Vallone & Elizabeth C. Hair, 2020. "Effects of Multiple Exposures and Ad-Skipping Behavior on Recall of Health Messages on YouTube TM," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-8, November.
    9. Olivia A. Wackowski & Jennah M. Sontag & David Hammond & Richard J. O’Connor & Pamela A. Ohman-Strickland & Andrew A. Strasser & Andrea C. Villanti & Cristine D. Delnevo, 2019. "The Impact of E-Cigarette Warnings, Warning Themes and Inclusion of Relative Harm Statements on Young Adults’ E-Cigarette Perceptions and Use Intentions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-14, January.
    10. Sarah D Kowitt & Seth M Noar & Leah M Ranney & Adam O Goldstein, 2017. "Public attitudes toward larger cigarette pack warnings: Results from a nationally representative U.S. sample," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-14, March.
    11. Ramanadhan, Shoba & Nagler, Rebekah H. & McCloud, Rachel & Kohler, Racquel & Viswanath, Kasisomayajula, 2017. "Graphic health warnings as activators of social networks: A field experiment among individuals of low socioeconomic position," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 219-227.
    12. Septian Emma Dwi Jatmika & Muchsin Maulana & Kuntoro Kuntoro & Santi Martini & Beni Setya Anjani, 2019. "The Readiness of Smokers to Quit Smoking," Global Journal of Health Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(1), pages 172-172, January.
    13. Janet Chung-Hall & Geoffrey T. Fong & Gang Meng & Mi Yan & Takahiro Tabuchi & Itsuro Yoshimi & Yumiko Mochizuki & Lorraine V. Craig & Janine Ouimet & Anne C. K. Quah, 2020. "Effectiveness of Text-Only Cigarette Health Warnings in Japan: Findings from the 2018 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Japan Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-17, February.
    14. Lilianna Phan & Andrea C. Villanti & Glenn Leshner & Theodore L. Wagener & Elise M. Stevens & Andrea C. Johnson & Darren Mays, 2020. "Development and Pretesting of Hookah Tobacco Public Education Messages for Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-14, November.
    15. Christopher M. Seitz & Kenneth D. Ward & Zubair Kabir, 2021. "Quitline Information Included on Cigarette Packaging: An Assessment of Country Adherence to WHO FCTC Guidelines, 2007 to 2018," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-7, November.
    16. Morgan, Jennifer C. & Golden, Shelley D. & Noar, Seth M. & Ribisl, Kurt M. & Southwell, Brian G. & Jeong, Michelle & Hall, Marissa G. & Brewer, Noel T., 2018. "Conversations about pictorial cigarette pack warnings: Theoretical mechanisms of influence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 218(C), pages 45-51.
    17. Davis, Cassandra Denise & Burton, Scot, 2019. "Making bad look good: The counterpersuasive effects of natural labels on (dangerous) vice goods," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 271-282.
    18. Kaitlyn E. Brodar & Marissa G. Hall & Eboneé N. Butler & Humberto Parada & Al Stein-Seroussi & Sean Hanley & Noel T. Brewer, 2016. "Recruiting Diverse Smokers: Enrollment Yields and Cost," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-9, December.
    19. Johnson, Blair T. & Acabchuk, Rebecca L., 2018. "What are the keys to a longer, happier life? Answers from five decades of health psychology research," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 218-226.
    20. Jessica L. Reid & Seema Mutti-Packer & Prakash C. Gupta & Qiang Li & Jiang Yuan & Nigar Nargis & A. K. M. Ghulam Hussain & David Hammond, 2017. "Influence of Health Warnings on Beliefs about the Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking, in the Context of an Experimental Study in Four Asian Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-15, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:22:p:4435-:d:286132. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.