Below is the citation and abstract of a new paper in the journal Annals of Behavioural Medicine. Unfortunately, the full text is restricted-access, which is regrettable for a paper that may have profound implications for global public health. A commentary on the news website Vox points out that 77 countries now require mandatory graphic photos of the physical harms of smoking on all cigarette packets. http://www.vox.com/2015/4/8/8371613/graphic-warnings-on-cigarette-packs-are-changing-the-smoking

This means, by implication, that 118 countries do not have such legislation, including the United States. As HIFA has shown, in collaboration with the New York Law Scool, governments worldwide have a legal responsibility under international human rights law to inform their citizens on health issues.

http://www.hifa2015.org/hifa2015-and-human-rights/

All governments therefore are legally obliged to take steps towards mandatory inclusion of graphic clinical photos on cigarette packets.

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CITATION: Magnan RE & Cameron LD. Do Young Adults Perceive That Cigarette Graphic Warnings Provide New Knowledge About the Harms of Smoking? Annals of Behavioural Medicine 2015. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12160-015-9691-6

ABSTRACT

Background: Although much research on graphic cigarette warnings has focused on motivational responses, little focus has been given to how much individuals learn from these labels.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate whether graphic warnings provide greater perceived new knowledge of smoking consequences compared to text-only warnings, and to test a mediational model whereby perceived new knowledge promotes discouragement from smoking through its impact on worry.

Methods: In two studies, young adult smokers and nonsmokers (ages 18–25) evaluated graphic + text and corresponding text-only labels on perceived knowledge, worry about the harms addressed by the warning, and discouragement from smoking.

Results: Compared to text-only labels, graphic + text labels were rated as providing better understanding, more new knowledge, and being more worrisome and discouraging. Perceived new knowledge predicted greater discouragement from smoking directly and through worry.

Conclusions: Graphic warnings may be more efficacious than text-based warnings in increasing knowledge and worry about harms, and discouragement from smoking.

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