Smoking and television: review of extant literature

Smoking cessation programming is appearing with increasing frequency over the medium of television. This report reviews those television quit smoking programs that have been described in the literature. Programming features (e.g., program timing, content, utilization, and cost-effectiveness) are examined in addition to the assessment of the impact on viewers' smoking behavior. Overall, published reports have described a host of intriguing ways the TV medium can be used to encourage widespread smoking cessation. To date, however, there has been relatively less innovation and thoroughness in terms of assessing program impact. Implications are discussed for the burgeoning realm of health promotion programming via the electronic media.