The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47499

Nancy J. Kaufman, RN,, MS¹, Brian C Castrucci, BA², Michelle Larkin, RN, MS¹, and Donald Shopland³. (1) The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Route 1 and College Road East, Princeton, NJ 08534, (609)243-5971, NKAUFMAN@RWJF.ORG, (2) Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, 23640 Walden Center Drive, Bonita Springs, FL 34134, (3) Consultant, Consultant, 7206 Peekskill Drive, Frederick, MD 21702

The warning label is present on cigarette packages, at least in part, to educate the consumer as to the risks of cigarette smoking. Once armed with the knowledge of the dangers of cigarette smoking, tobacco control advocated would hope for behavior change. This presentation seeks to answer the questions - Do smokers (adult and youth) look at warning labels, and with what frequency? Do warning labels matter? Can warning labels impact behavior change?

The presentation uses data collected in 2000 from a random sample of 1694 adult smokers and 1694 youth through telephone interviews. The sample was selected to be nationally representative. This presentation will report on the frequency of viewing the warning label, whether labels matter, if respondents believe the message are tailored to them, and if they facilitate behavior change.

Learning Objectives:

• Descirbe smokers and non-smokers awareness of cigarette warning labels
• Evaluate the precision with which those who are aware of cigarette warning labels can describe what they contain
• Discuss bivariate associations between awareness and other variables including quitting intentions and knowledge

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.