Would a cigarette by any other name taste as good in China?: Table 1

Development and validation of a smoking rationalization scale for male smokers in China

“…Even for government officials and physicians, who are expected to be “role models in tobacco control,” the smoking prevalence is as high as 54.1 and 40.4 percent, respectively (Yang, 2011). In addition, the tobacco industry has been promoting the social acceptability of smoking through advertisements (Chu et al, 2011; Wang et al, 2016). All these help make the pro-smoking values the “norms” of the Chinese society, which explains why the social acceptability beliefs are prevalent among our participants.…”

“…Therefore, conventional anti-smoking campaigns and health education that simply deliver the negative health consequences of smoking can’t automatically lead to smoking cessation if smoking rationalization is common. Smoking cessation may be particularly challenging considering that the tobacco industry has made great efforts in advertising and marketing to reinforce smoking rationalization beliefs (Chu et al, 2011; Lesyna, 2012; Wang et al, 2014, 2016). Based on the findings from our study, we speculate that public health programs and interventions targeting rationalization beliefs commonly held by smokers might be more successful in persuading smokers to quit.…”