Anti-smoking advertisements are perceived differently by smokers and individuals with health or advertising knowledge

Several studies have examined the characteristics of anti-smoking advertisements that are associated with quitting behaviour. Some studies use researchers or graduate students to code advertisement characteristics, while others recruit smokers or members of the general public. The aim of this study was to assist future campaign development by assessing whether anti-smoking advertisement characteristics are coded differently by smokers and 'experts' (individuals with knowledge of health promotion, public health or advertising).

A total of 49 smokers and 42 experts coded anti-smoking advertisements according to four key characteristics (emotional/cognitive approach, negative/positive tone, message frame, and main message) and the use of eight executional techniques. Chi-squared tests were used to measure differences in coding outcomes between smokers and experts.

There were significant differences between smokers and experts in the coding of all key characteristics and four of the eight executional techniques. Compared with smokers, experts were more likely to perceive advertisements as negative in tone and as inducing fear.

Smokers and experts perceived the characteristics of anti-smoking advertisements differently. Implications for public health: Differences between smokers and experts may need to be taken into account where studies use either of these groups to code advertisements for campaign development or evaluation purposes.