Information disclosure and smoking risk perceptions: Potential short-term impact on Spanish students of the new European Union directive on tobacco products

Abstract

The measures developed by the public sector to present a higher profile of anti-tobacco health warnings do influence the target population in the desired direction, at least in the short term. Hence, given that the perception of risk influences the election to smoke, it is predictable that when these types of policy decisions are applied, there will be a tendency towards a reduction in the incidence and prevalence of tobacco consumption.

Health warning messages on tobacco products: a review

“…A series of 52 focus groups conducted in seven European countries in 2004 found that the enhanced text warnings in the EU were more noticeable than smaller warnings printed previously on packs, with a greater potential to help smokers to quit (figure 2)37 A cohort study conducted in the UK before and after the enhanced warnings were implemented also found that the salience of the warnings increased dramatically among UK smokers, along with the frequency of thoughts regarding health effects and level of health knowledge 27. These findings are consistent with a number of population-based surveys conducted after the implementation of the enhanced warnings in France,38 Scotland and Ireland,39 Spain40 and Belgium 41. Collectively, these studies indicate that smokers' awareness of the warnings increased following implementation of the new warnings and a considerable proportion of smokers reported measures consistent with increased perception of health risks as a result of more comprehensive text warnings.…”

“…Studies in France,64 Belgium,41 Spain,40 Bulgaria66 and the UK65 consistently demonstrated that warnings with shocking images (such as rotten teeth or throat cancer) were rated as most effective. Shocking images are also most likely to be recalled by smokers in population-based studies of warnings on Canadian,15 21 Australian24 and European41 cigarette packs.…”

Tobacco policies in the European Union: a need for state and continental harmonisation?

“…Directive 1999/0244 (COD) intensifies this policy by proposing that the content and presentation of health warnings on the packets be enlarged and framed in black so that the new warning appears more shocking (''smoking kills''). This directive was implemented in all EU countries over the following years and the results in the short term indicated an increased perception of risk, as shown by Portillo and Antoñ anzas [6]. In their experiment, developed specifically for the purpose of the study, the maximum increase in the mean risk perception associated with the smoking habit following the new labelling was 20.8%.…”

Vulnerability and self-perceived health status among light and heavy smokers: the relationship to short-term fear appeal tobacco control messages

“…However, future studies should consider the population impact gain with different communication messages targeting smokers with different levels of cigarette consumption. Awareness-raising strategies with a wide population reach, such as through the mass media or using propaganda on cigarette packs have an important role in publicizing anti-tobacco interventions, strengthening the issue's personal relevance 39 . …”