A Pilot Randomised Trial Investigating the Effects of Including Efficacy Messaging on Tobacco Warning Labels
Lillian Brinken1, Stuart G Ferguson1, Marie-Jeanne Buscot1
1University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
Summary
Adding efficacy messages to tobacco warning labels did not increase quitting intentions in smokers. However, self-efficacy and risk perception remain key predictors of quitting intentions, suggesting future research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
- Health Communication
Background:
- Smokers may exhibit defensive reactions to health risk communication, diminishing the impact of warning labels.
- Existing tobacco warning labels primarily focus on risk, often neglecting self-efficacy, a crucial factor in behavior change.
- Theoretical models suggest that risk perception and self-efficacy jointly mitigate defensive responses and influence target behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of integrating efficacy content with Australian tobacco warning labels.
- To determine if combined efficacy and risk messages enhance smokers' intentions to quit.
Main Methods:
- A 3-week randomized controlled trial involving 83 smokers.
- Participants were assigned to receive either standard health warning labels (HWLs) with enhanced efficacy messages or unmodified standard HWLs.
- Daily self-reported cognitions and smoking behavior were collected via smartphone, with analysis using multilevel structural equation modeling.
Main Results:
- Exposure to efficacy messages did not significantly impact self-efficacy, risk perception, or quitting intentions.
- A positive association was observed between self-efficacy, risk perception, and quitting intentions at the within-person level.
Conclusions:
- While self-efficacy and risk perception predict quitting intentions, supplementing standard HWLs with efficacy content did not enhance these outcomes.
- Further investigation is required to understand the reasons for the lack of effect, such as message characteristics or avoidance behaviors.
- Future research should explore the optimal contexts and populations for efficacy-enhancing messages and their temporal influence on cessation.
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