325556
Banning tobacco price promotions, smoking-related beliefs and behavior: Findings from the International Tobacco Control four-country cohort survey
Method: Smokers and recent quitters at wave 8 (N= 4,114) were included in multivariate logistic regression models to examine associations between exposure to price promotions at waves 7 and 8 (conducted in 2009 and 2011) on smoking-related beliefs (i.e., social, function, risk, misconception, decision, policy beliefs) and behavior at wave 8, stratified by whether the countries allow (United States, Australia) or ban (Canada, United Kingdom) price promotions.
Results: Exposure to price promotions was highest for Americans (85.9%) followed by British (41.2%), Canadians (32.6%), and Australians (24.8%).
Exposure to tobacco price promotions was associated with smoking-related beliefs and somewhat differed by the presence of a tobacco price promotions ban. For example, exposure to tobacco price promotions was associated with decision beliefs (e.g., spend too much on cigarettes; p < 0.05) in both ban- and no-ban countries. However, only participants in no-ban countries who were exposed to price promotions were likely to endorse tobacco control strategies (e.g., tobacco products should be tightly regulated; p < 0.05).
Consistent exposure to tobacco price promotions (i.e., at waves 7 and 8) predicted current smoking at wave 8 in no-ban countries only (AOR: 1.59; p < 0.05).
Conclusion: While differential associations emerged between exposure to tobacco price promotions and smoking-related beliefs across ban- vs. no-ban countries, consistent exposure to these promotions repeatedly predicted smoking-related beliefs and subsequent smoking behaviors in countries without a ban on tobacco price promotions. Adoption of promotions ban could be an effective way to eliminate effects of tobacco price promotions on smoking.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelinesPublic health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Explain the impact of adopting tobacco promotional ban on prevalence of exposure to tobacco promotions.
Identify associations between exposure to tobacco promotions and smoking-related beliefs and behavior.
Differentiate association patterns between exposure to tobacco promotions and distinct belief types.
Explain the differential effects of consistent vs. sporadic exposure to tobacco promotions in countries that ban vs. allow tobacco promotions.
Keyword(s): Tobacco Control, International Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: The lead author is a visiting fellow at NIH/NIMHD working on tobacco research. She conducted the analysis, interpreted the data, and drafted the abstract. She has expertise in behavioral theories which is germane to the abstract. Dr. Choi has been the principal investigator and co-investigator on several federally and regionally funded grants on tobacco use and tobacco control. One of his scientific expertise is in tobacco marketing on which he has published multiple articles.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.