J Korean Acad Fam Med.  2006 Feb;27(2):128-135.

A Survey on the Effect of Cigarette Warning Labels

• Cho KS
• Shin YJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In an effort to use cigarette warning labels as a means for reducing smoking rates, this study examined current cigarette warning messages and newly designed pictorial warning labels.
METHODS
From June 15, 2005, to June 22, 2005 we conducted an e-mail survey of 1,200 civilians to examine the effect of cigarette warning labels. For statistical analysis, we used chi-square test with SPSS 11.0 software.
RESULTS
Among all the respondents, 78.7% indicated that current cigarette warning labels did not have any effect. However, most of the respondents indicated that pictorial warning labels are effective in raising public awareness (84.6%) or knowledge (81.5%) of the harmful effects of cigarettes. They also responded that pictorial warning labels would help them quit smoking (75.9%) or keep them from buying cigarettes (64.1%). Over 80% of the respondents and over 70% of the smokers responded that they would welcome the use of pictorial warning labels as an anti-smoking measure.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study showed that current cigarette warning labels are not effective in curbing smoking rates. Also, the results suggest that current cigarette warning labels need to be improved if they are to be used as an effective anti-smoking measure.

Keyword

cigarette package; warning label; pictorial warning label; anti-smoking policy

MeSH Terms

Surveys and Questionnaires
Electronic Mail
Smoke
Smoking
Tobacco Products*
Smoke