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Ma Z. "I Can See a Story from the Warning": Understanding the Role of Perceived Narrativity in Pictorial Warning Labels. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2024; 39:675-684. [PMID: 36803193 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2023.2181050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the role of perceived narrativity in pictorial warning labels (PWLs) in countering warning reactance and increasing warning effectiveness and support in the context of communicating the cancer risk of alcohol. Findings from a randomized experiment (N = 1,188) showed that PWLs with imagery of lived experience were perceived higher in narrativity than those with imagery of graphic health effects. Adding a one-sentence narrative (vs. non-narrative) text statement to PWLs with imagery of lived experience did not affect perceived narrativity. Perceived narrativity predicted lower reactance to warnings and subsequently higher intentions to stop drinking and higher policy support. Total effects showed that PWLs with imagery of lived experience and non-narrative text led to the lowest reactance, the highest intentions to stop drinking, and the highest level of policy support. This study adds to a growing body of evidence that PWLs featuring narrative content are promising in communicating health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexin Ma
- Department of Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations, Oakland University
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Malik S, Ong Z. Is evoking fear effective? Exploratory findings from a randomised experiment on the impacts of health warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages. Public Health Nutr 2023; 27:e42. [PMID: 38126272 PMCID: PMC10882526 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023002859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Health warning labels (HWL) have been suggested to be effective in reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). Yet, the efficacy and acceptability of SSB HWL of different formats (textual/pictorial) and severity remain unclear. This exploratory study aims to examine the extent and mechanism through which HWL of different formats and severity may affect responses towards the HWL and SSB consumption. DESIGN Randomised online experiment. Participants were exposed to images of a hypothetical SSB bearing a HWL of one of three conditions: text-only HWL, moderately severe pictorial HWL and highly severe pictorial HWL. They then responded to theory-based affective, cognitive and behavioural measures. SETTING Singapore. PARTICIPANTS One hundred and twenty-seven young adult consumers from a public university. RESULTS Direct effects were found for fear, avoidance, reactance and acceptability of the HWL, but not attitude, intention or motivation to consume less SSB. Pictorial (moderately severe and highly severe) HWL were associated with greater fear, avoidance, and reactance, and lower acceptability than text-only HWL. There was weak evidence that highly severe pictorial HWL resulted in greater reactance than moderately severe pictorial HWL. Fear mediated the effect of HWL of different severity levels on avoidance, reactance, intention and motivation, but not for attitude or acceptability. CONCLUSIONS Exploratory findings indicate that although pictorial HWL were less acceptable, they may still be effective in influencing intention and motivation to reduce SSB consumption through the psychological mechanism of fear. Hence, graphic HWL should not be dismissed too quickly when considering strategies for reducing SSB consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelly Malik
- Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, 637718Singapore
| | - Zoe Ong
- Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, 637718Singapore
- Global Asia, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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Ma Z, Ma R. Designing Cancer Warning Labels for Alcoholic Beverages: Examining the Impact of Visual Elements. HEALTH EDUCATION & BEHAVIOR 2023; 50:586-594. [PMID: 37131330 DOI: 10.1177/10901981231166696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol is a known carcinogen. However, public awareness of cancer risk associated with alcohol use is low. A promising approach to raising awareness is to include cancer warning labels on alcohol-containing products, but there is limited knowledge of the design and effect of such warnings. The present study investigated the impact of visual elements on the effectiveness of cancer warning labels. In a randomized online experiment, alcohol consumers (N = 1,190) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: exposure to (a) text-only warning labels, (b) pictorial warning labels showing graphic health effects (e.g., diseased organs), and (c) pictorial warning labels showing lived experience (e.g., cancer patients in a medical setting). The results showed that whereas the three warning types did not differ significantly in behavioral intentions, pictorial warnings featuring health effects led to greater disgust and anger than text-only warnings and pictorial warnings featuring lived experience. Moreover, anger predicted lower intentions to reduce alcohol use and was a significant mediator of the effects of warning type on behavioral intentions. The findings highlight the role of emotions in responses to health warning labels with different visual elements and suggest that text-only warnings and pictorial warnings with lived experience may be useful in preventing boomerang effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexin Ma
- Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA
| | - Rong Ma
- Butler University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Noar SM, Gottfredson N, Vereen RN, Kurtzman R, Sheldon JM, Adams E, Hall MG, Brewer NT. Development of the UNC Perceived Message Effectiveness Scale for Youth. Tob Control 2023; 32:553-558. [PMID: 34930810 PMCID: PMC9238328 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tobacco prevention media campaigns are an important tool to address youth tobacco use. We developed a theory-based perceived message effectiveness (PME) Scale to use when vetting messages for campaigns. METHODS Participants were a national sample of N=623 US adolescents (ages 13-17 years) recruited from a national probability-based panel. In an online experiment, we randomised adolescents to view tobacco prevention ads. All participants viewed an ad on smoking or vaping from the US Food and Drug Administration's The Real Cost campaign and a control video, in a random order. After ad exposure, we assessed PME using nine candidate items and constructs for convergent and criterion validity analyses. We used confirmatory factor analysis and examined information curves to select the scale items. RESULTS A brief PME scale with three items (α=0.95) worked equally well for demographically diverse adolescents with different patterns of tobacco use. The Real Cost ads generated higher PME scores than the control videos for both vaping and smoking (convergent validity; p<0.05). Higher PME scores were associated with greater attention, fear, cognitive elaboration and anticipated social interactions (convergent validity; r=0.31-0.66), as well as more negative attitudes toward and lower susceptibility to vaping and smoking (criterion validity; r=-0.14 to -0.37). A single-item PME measure performed similarly to the three-item version. CONCLUSIONS The University of North Carolina PME Scale for Youth is a reliable and valid measure of the potential effectiveness of vaping and smoking prevention ads. Employing PME scales during message development and selection may help youth tobacco prevention campaigns deploy more effective ads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth M Noar
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nisha Gottfredson
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rhyan N Vereen
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rachel Kurtzman
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jennifer Mendel Sheldon
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elizabeth Adams
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marissa G Hall
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Noel T Brewer
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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D’Angelo-Campos A, Taillie LS, Vatavuk-Serrati G, Grummon AH, Higgins ICA, Hall MG. Effects of pictorial warnings on parents' purchases and perceptions of sugar-sweetened beverage categories. Pediatr Obes 2023; 18:e13030. [PMID: 36965067 PMCID: PMC10687846 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.13030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption remains high among US children. Warning labels on SSBs hold promise for reducing consumption, but their impact may differ by SSB category. OBJECTIVES This study examined the effects of pictorial warnings on parents' beverage purchases and perceptions across SSB categories. METHODS Parents of children ages 2-12 (n = 326) visited a convenience store laboratory in North Carolina. Participants were randomly assigned to see SSBs carrying either pictorial warning labels or control labels. Parents purchased a beverage for their child and completed a survey. RESULTS Responses from parents in the control arm suggest underlying perceptions of flavoured milk (2.8 on scale ranging from 1 to 5), flavoured water (2.6), and fruit-flavoured drinks (2.5) as the most healthful SSB categories. Compared to the control, pictorial warnings led to the largest reductions in purchases of fruit drinks (-61%), soda (-36%) and flavoured milk (-32%). Warnings also lowered the perceived healthfulness of flavoured water (d = -0.34), flavoured milk (d = -0.28), sports drinks (d = -0.25), and a reduction in intentions to give one's child sports drinks (d = -0.30), flavoured water (d = -0.24) and sweet tea (d = -0.22, all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Warning labels may have heterogeneous effects across SSB categories. Future research should assess the psychological mechanisms underlying these heterogeneous effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline D’Angelo-Campos
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lindsey S Taillie
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Gabriela Vatavuk-Serrati
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Anna H Grummon
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Isabella C. A Higgins
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Marissa G Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Lazard AJ, Ebrahimi Kalan M, Nicolla S, Hall MG, Ribisl KM, Sheldon JM, Whitesell C, Queen TL, Brewer NT. Optimising messages and images for e-cigarette warnings. Tob Control 2023:tc-2022-057859. [PMID: 37344191 PMCID: PMC10733543 DOI: 10.1136/tc-2022-057859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) to have a single addiction warning, but many other health harms are associated with vaping and warnings grow stale over time. We aimed to develop new warning messages and images to discourage e-cigarette use. METHODS Participants were 1629 US adults who vaped or smoked. We randomised each participant to evaluate 7 of 28 messages on newly developed warning themes (metals exposure, DNA mutation, cardiovascular problems, chemical exposure, lung damage, impaired immunity, addiction), and the current FDA-required warning (total of 8 messages). Then, participants evaluated images of hazards (eg, metal), internal harms (eg, organ damage) or people experiencing harms. RESULTS Regarding intended effects, new warning themes all discouraged vaping more than the current FDA-required warning (all p<0.001), led to greater negative affect (all p<0.001) and led to more anticipated social interactions (all p<0.001). The most discouraging warnings were about toxic metals exposure. Regarding unintended effects, the new themes led to more stigma against people who vape (6 of 7 themes, p<0.001) and led to a greater likelihood of thinking vaping is more harmful than smoking (all 7 themes, p<0.001), although unintended effects were smaller than intended effects. Images of harms (internal or people experiencing) discouraged vaping more than images of hazards (all p<0.001). DISCUSSION Vaping warning policies should communicate a broader range of hazards and harms, beyond addiction, to potentially increase awareness of health harms. Images of internal harm or people experiencing harms may be particularly effective at discouraging vaping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison J Lazard
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mohammad Ebrahimi Kalan
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- School of Health Professions, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
| | - Sydney Nicolla
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marissa G Hall
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kurt M Ribisl
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jennifer Mendel Sheldon
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Callie Whitesell
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tara L Queen
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Noel T Brewer
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Musicus AA, Gibson LA, Bellamy SL, Orr JA, Hammond D, Glanz K, Volpp KG, Schwartz MB, Bleakley A, Strasser AA, Roberto CA. Effects of Sugary Beverage Text and Pictorial Warnings: A Randomized Trial. Am J Prev Med 2023; 64:716-727. [PMID: 36764835 PMCID: PMC10121881 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Multiple U.S. localities have introduced legislation requiring sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) warnings. This study effects of different warning designs on beverage selections and perceptions. STUDY DESIGN The study was an RCT. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS An online virtual convenience store and survey were used with a nationally representative sample of primary caregivers of 6-11-year-olds (n=961). Data were collected in January 2020 and analyzed in May-July 2020. INTERVENTION Participants were randomized to view SSBs with 1 of 4 front-of-package label designs: (1) no-warning control, (2) health-related text warning, (3) sugar pictorial warning (image of beverage sugar content in cubes/teaspoons/packets with health-related warning text), or (4) health pictorial warning (image of possible health consequences of overconsuming SSBs with health-related warning text). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Outcomes included participants' beverage choice for their child and perceptions of beverages, their assigned labels, and warning policies. RESULTS Proportionally fewer participants chose a SSB in the sugar pictorial warning condition (-13.4 percentage points; 95% CI= -21.6 to -0.1 percentage points; p=0.007) and in the health pictorial warning condition (-14.7 percentage points; 95% CI= -22.8 to -0.1 percentage points; p=0.004) compared to the control. Sugar pictorial warnings led to more accurate added-sugar content estimates than all conditions and greater label trust and support for sugar-sweetened beverage warning policies than health pictorial warnings. CONCLUSIONS SSB warning policies may be most effective if they mandate images of beverages' added sugar content accompanied by warning text. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study is registered at www. CLINICALTRIALS gov NCT03648138.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aviva A Musicus
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
| | - Laura A Gibson
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Scarlett L Bellamy
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jennifer A Orr
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - David Hammond
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karen Glanz
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kevin G Volpp
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Marlene B Schwartz
- Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Amy Bleakley
- Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware
| | - Andrew A Strasser
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Christina A Roberto
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Grummon AH, Ruggles PR, Greenfield TK, Hall MG. Designing Effective Alcohol Warnings: Consumer Reactions to Icons and Health Topics. Am J Prev Med 2023; 64:157-166. [PMID: 37575887 PMCID: PMC10421534 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2022.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Introduction New warning labels for alcohol could reduce alcohol-related health harms. This study examined consumer responses to alcohol warnings with different designs. Methods A national sample of 3,051 U.S. adults completed an online survey in August 2021. Participants were randomized to 1 of 4 warning topics (addiction, liver damage, early death, or colon cancer). Participants viewed 3 labels, presented in random order: 2 types of warning labels (text-only and icon) showing a newly developed warning message about their assigned topic and a text-only control label showing a neutral message. Participants rated each label on effectiveness at discouraging alcohol consumption (primary outcome) and attention (secondary outcome) using 1 to 5 Likert-type scales. Participants also rated warnings with different causal language variants (e.g., "increases risk of," "contributes to") and marker words (e.g., "WARNING," "SURGEON GENERAL WARNING"). Results Both the text-only and icon warnings were perceived as more effective (Average Differential Effects [ADEs]=0.79 and 0.86, respectively) and more attention-grabbing (ADEs=0.43 and 0.69, respectively) than control labels (all ps<0.001). The icon warnings were rated as more effective and attention-grabbing than the text-only warnings (ADEs=0.07 and 0.27, respectively, both ps<0.001). Although all warning topics outperformed the control messages, warnings about addiction were rated as less effective and attention-grabbing than the other topics. A majority (60%) of participants selected "increases risk of" as the most discouraging causal variant and a plurality (47%) selected "SURGEON GENERAL WARNING" as the most discouraging marker word. Conclusions New alcohol warnings could discourage alcohol consumption, especially if warnings include icons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna H. Grummon
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Phoebe R. Ruggles
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | - Marissa G. Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Erath TG, Browning KO, Evemy C, Feinstein MJP, Wiley RC, Kemperer EM, DeSarno M, Higgins ST. A review of research on cigarette smoking in Preventive Medicine in recognition of the journal's 50th anniversary. Prev Med 2022; 164:107335. [PMID: 36334681 PMCID: PMC9742989 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
This report reviews the literature on cigarette smoking published in Preventive Medicine over the past 50 years. The goal is twofold. First, to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of Preventive Medicine and its role in disseminating research on cigarette smoking by providing an abridged summary of smoking research published in the journal from inception through June 23, 2022. Second, to review experimental reports to identify contributions to innovations in tobacco control and regulatory efforts to reduce cigarette smoking. We searched PubMed using the search terms cigarette/cigarettes, tobacco products, smoking, smoking cessation, Preventive Medicine. Titles and abstracts were reviewed in duplicate, excluding reports not addressing cigarette smoking. Included reports were categorized by study type (original study, commentary, review). Experimental articles were assessed for impact using iCite, a National Institutes of Health web application that provides bibliometric information for articles in defined topic areas. The review identified 1181 articles on cigarette smoking: 1018 original studies (86.2%), 107 literature reviews (9.1%), and 56 commentaries (4.7%); 166 of the 1018 original studies (16%) were experimental reports. In the iCite analysis these 166 experimental articles received 6366 total citations, a mean (standard error) citation rate/article of 38.35 (±3.21) and mean relative citation ratio of 1.85 (±0.17) which is at the 73rd percentile for NIH-funded field- and time-normalized reports. Overall, this review demonstrates an ongoing and impactful contribution of Preventive Medicine to efforts to reduce cigarette smoking, the most preventable cause of premature death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler G Erath
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America.
| | - Kaitlyn O Browning
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
| | - Carolyn Evemy
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
| | - Marc Jerome P Feinstein
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
| | - Rhiannon C Wiley
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
| | - Elias M Kemperer
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
| | - Michael DeSarno
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Medical Biostatistics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
| | - Stephen T Higgins
- Vermont Center on Behavior and Health, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America; Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States of America
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Ma Z. The Role of Narrative Pictorial Warning Labels in Communicating Alcohol-Related Cancer Risks. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2022; 37:1345-1353. [PMID: 33601986 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2021.1888456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the role of pictorial warning labels (PWLs) featuring narrative content in communicating alcohol-related cancer risks. In an online experiment, 169 adult alcohol consumers were randomly assigned to view two narrative PWLs, two non-narrative PWLs, or control. Results showed that exposure to narrative PWLs significantly increased participants' worry about, feelings of risk of, and perceived severity of harm of getting alcohol-related cancer, but did not affect their comparative likelihood of getting alcohol-related cancer or intentions to reduce alcohol use. Exposure to narrative PWLs also indirectly influenced intentions through increased worry. Moreover, participants' risk perceptions and intentions in non-narrative PWLs condition did not differ from those in narrative PWLs and control conditions. Therefore, these findings suggest that narrative PWLs are a promising strategy in informing consumers about the cancer risks of alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexin Ma
- Department of Communication, Journalism, and Public Relations, Oakland University
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Taillie LS, Higgins ICA, Lazard AJ, Miles DR, Blitstein JL, Hall MG. Do sugar warning labels influence parents' selection of a labeled snack for their children? A randomized trial in a virtual convenience store. Appetite 2022; 175:106059. [PMID: 35526703 PMCID: PMC10173438 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite growing evidence that warning labels reduce purchases of sugary drinks, less is known about warnings' impact on purchases of sugary snacks. This paper aimed to experimentally test whether a front-of-package label warning about high sugar content ("sugar warning label") would reduce parents' likelihood of selecting a labeled snack versus a non-labeled snack for their child in a food store setting. Participants (n = 2,219 parents of at least one child aged 1-5y) were recruited via an online panel and asked to complete a shopping task in a virtual convenience store. Participants were randomized to one of three labeling conditions: barcode control, text-only sugar warning label, or pictorial sugar warning label. Participants viewed two granola snacks, one labeled and one unlabeled, and selected one for purchase. A post-shopping survey measured secondary outcomes. Predictions and analyses were preregistered on www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04381481). Participants exposed to the text or pictorial sugar warning labels were less likely to select the labeled snack than those in the barcode control group (21%, 18%, and 34% respectively; p < 0.001 for both comparisons of warning to control). Relative to the barcode control label, the text and pictorial sugar warning labels resulted in greater attention, anticipated social interactions, negative affect, cognitive elaboration, and perceived message effectiveness, as well as lower perceptions of healthfulness, appeal, and intentions to purchase or consume the product (p < 0.001 for all comparisons of warnings to control). There were no differences in outcomes between text and pictorial sugar warning labels. In conclusion, text and pictorial sugar warning labels reduced parents' likelihood of selecting a labeled granola snack for their children. These results contribute to a growing body of evidence showing that warning labels influence food purchasing behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings Global School of Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, 245 Rosenau Hall CB # 7461, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA; Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 123 W Franklin Street, Suite 2107, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, USA.
| | - Isabella C A Higgins
- Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 123 W Franklin Street, Suite 2107, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, USA; Department of Health Behavior, Gillings Global School of Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, 302 Rosenau Hall, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Allison J Lazard
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carroll Hall, CB 3365, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA.
| | - Donna R Miles
- Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 123 W Franklin Street, Suite 2107, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, USA.
| | - Jonathan L Blitstein
- Insight Policy Research, 1901 North Moore Street, Suite 1100, Arlington, VA, 22209, USA.
| | - Marissa G Hall
- Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 123 W Franklin Street, Suite 2107, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, USA; Department of Health Behavior, Gillings Global School of Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, 302 Rosenau Hall, CB #7440, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA.
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12
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Singh SK, Taillie LS, Gupta A, Bercholz M, Popkin B, Murukutla N. Front-of-Package Labels on Unhealthy Packaged Foods in India: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14153128. [PMID: 35956305 PMCID: PMC9370292 DOI: 10.3390/nu14153128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Policies to require front-of-package labels (FOPLs) on packaged foods may help Indian consumers to better identify foods high in nutrients of concern, including sugar, saturated fat, and sodium, and discourage their consumption, which are outcomes that are critical for preventing rises in diet-related non-communicable disease. The objective was to test whether FOPLs helped Indian consumers identify “high-in” packaged foods and reduce intentions to purchase them. We conducted an in-person randomized experiment (n = 2869 adults between ages 18 and 60 years old) in six states of India in 2022. Participants were randomized to one of five FOPLs: a control label (barcode), warning label (octagon with “High in [nutrient]”), Health Star Rating (HSR), Guideline Daily Amount (GDA), or traffic light label. Participants then viewed a series of packaged foods high in sugar, saturated fat, or sodium with the assigned FOPL, and rated product perceptions and label reactions. Fewer than half of participants in the control group (39.1%) correctly identified all products high in nutrient(s) of concern. All FOPLs led to an increase in this outcome, with the biggest differences observed for the warning label (60.8%, p < 0.001), followed by the traffic light label (54.8%, p < 0.001), GDA (55.0%, p < 0.001), and HSR (45.0%, p < 0.01). While no FOPLs led to a reduction in intentions to purchase the packaged foods, the overall pattern of results suggested that warning labels are the most effective FOPL to help Indian consumers identify unhealthy foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. K. Singh
- Department of Survey Research and Data Analytics, International Institute for Population Sciences, Deemed University, Mumbai 400088, India
- Correspondence: (S.K.S.); (L.S.T.)
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA;
- Correspondence: (S.K.S.); (L.S.T.)
| | - Ashish Gupta
- Vital Strategies, New York, NY 27599, USA; (A.G.); (N.M.)
| | - Maxime Bercholz
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA;
| | - Barry Popkin
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA;
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Sigala DM, Hall MG, Musicus AA, Roberto CA, Solar SE, Fan S, Sorscher S, Nara D, Falbe J. Perceived effectiveness of added-sugar warning label designs for U.S. restaurant menus: An online randomized controlled trial. Prev Med 2022; 160:107090. [PMID: 35594928 PMCID: PMC9236625 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Added-sugar consumption in the U.S. exceeds recommended limits. Policymakers are considering requiring restaurants to use menu warning labels to indicate items high in added sugar. We sought to determine whether icon-only and icon-plus-text added-sugar menu labels were (1) perceived as more effective at potentially reducing consumption of items high in added sugar and (2) increased knowledge of menu items' added-sugar content relative to control labels, and if effects differed by label design. A national sample of U.S. adults (n = 1327) participated in an online randomized experiment. Participants viewed menu items with either a control label, 1 of 6 icon-only labels, or 1 of 18 icon-plus-text labels with 3 text variations. For their assigned label, participants provided ratings of perceived message effectiveness (a validated scale of a message's potential to change behavior). Participants were also asked to classify menu items by their added-sugar content. The icon-only and icon-plus-text labels were perceived as more effective than the control label (means: 3.7 and 3.7 vs. 3.1, respectively, on a 5-point scale; p < 0.001). The icon-only and icon-plus-text groups each correctly classified 71% of menu items by added-sugar content vs. 56% in the control group (p < 0.001). All icons and text variations were perceived as similarly effective. In conclusion, relative to a control label, icon-only and icon-plus-text added-sugar menu labels were perceived as effective and helped consumers identify items high in added sugar. Menu warning labels may be a promising strategy for reducing added-sugar consumption from restaurants, but research on behavioral effects in real-world settings is needed. Clinical Trials Identifier:NCT04637412.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desiree M Sigala
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Marissa G Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Carolina Population Center; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 170 Rosenau Hall, CB #7400, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Aviva A Musicus
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Christina A Roberto
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Building 421, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Sarah E Solar
- Human Development and Family Studies Program, Department of Human Ecology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Sili Fan
- Department of Statistics, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Sarah Sorscher
- The Center for Science in the Public Interest, 1220 L St. N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20005, USA.
| | - DeAnna Nara
- The Center for Science in the Public Interest, 1220 L St. N.W., Suite 300, Washington, D.C. 20005, USA.
| | - Jennifer Falbe
- Human Development and Family Studies Program, Department of Human Ecology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Foster S, Gmel G, Mohler-Kuo M. Young Swiss men's risky single-occasion drinking: Identifying those who do not respond to stricter alcohol policy environments. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 234:109410. [PMID: 35364420 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research has demonstrated a preventive effect of the alcohol policy environment on alcohol consumption. However, little is known about the heterogeneity of this effect. Our aim was to examine the extent of heterogeneity in the relationship between the strictness of alcohol policy environments and heavy drinking and to identify potential moderators of the relationship. METHODS Cross-sectional data from 5986 young Swiss men participating in the cohort study on substance use risk factors (C-SURF) were analysed. The primary outcome was self-reported risky single-occasion drinking in the past 12 months (RSOD, defined as 6 standard drinks or more on a single occasion at least monthly). A previously-used index of alcohol policy environment strictness across Swiss cantons was analysed in conjunction with 21 potential moderator variables. Random forest machine learning captured high-dimensional interaction effects, while individual conditional expectations captured the heterogeneity induced by the interaction effects and identified moderators. RESULTS Predicted subject-specific absolute risk reductions in RSOD risk ranged from 16.8% to - 4.2%, indicating considerable heterogeneity. Sensation seeking and antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) were major moderators that reduced the preventive relationship between stricter alcohol policy environments and RSOD risk. They also were associated with the paradoxical observation that some individuals displayed increased RSOD risk in stricter alcohol policy environments. CONCLUSION Whereas stricter alcohol policy environments were associated with reduced average RSOD risk, additionally addressing the risk conveyed by sensation seeking and ASPD would deliver an interlocking prevention mix against young Swiss men's RSOD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Foster
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (KJPP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Gerhard Gmel
- Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland, Addiction Switzerland, Lausanne, Switzerland, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Bristol, UK
| | - Meichun Mohler-Kuo
- La Source, School of nursing sciences, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Western Switzerland, Lausanne, Switzerland, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (KJPP), University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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15
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Jones D, Moodie C, Purves RI, Fitzgerald N, Crockett R. The role of alcohol packaging as a health communications tool: An online cross-sectional survey and experiment with young adult drinkers in the United Kingdom. Drug Alcohol Rev 2022; 41:1206-1215. [PMID: 35385591 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alcohol packaging is a potentially valuable means of communicating product and health-related information, with growing academic and political interest in its role as a health communications vehicle. METHODS An online cross-sectional survey and experiment were conducted with a non-probability sample of 18-35-year-old drinkers in the United Kingdom (n = 1360). The survey assessed exposure to, and engagement with, current messaging on packs, and support for displaying product and health-related information. For the randomised experiment, participants were shown, and asked questions about, a vodka bottle with either no warnings (control), small text warnings, large text warnings or pictorial (image-and-text) warnings; the main binary outcome measures were negative product appeal and social acceptability, and positive cognitive and behavioural impact. RESULTS Two-fifths of the sample rarely or never saw on-pack health-related information, with almost three-quarters rarely or never reading or looking closely at this. There was strong support for displaying a range of product and health-related information (e.g. units, ingredients) on packs. Relative to the control, products with warnings were more likely to be perceived as unappealing and socially unacceptable, and to positively impact alcohol-related cognitions and behaviours. For example, pictorial warnings were 10 times as likely to positively influence cognitions and behaviours (AOR = 10.01, 95% CI: 8.09, 17.46). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Alcohol packaging could have an important role in delivering health messaging. Large pictorial or text warnings may help counteract the appeal and social acceptability of alcohol products and increase awareness of risks, potentially supporting a reduction in consumption and related harms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Jones
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Crawford Moodie
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Richard I Purves
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Niamh Fitzgerald
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.,SPECTRUM Consortium, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Rachel Crockett
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
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Designing Environmental Messages to Discourage Red Meat Consumption: An Online Experiment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19052919. [PMID: 35270622 PMCID: PMC8910317 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Reducing red meat consumption in high-consuming countries is critical for mitigating climate change and preventing chronic disease. This study tested the effectiveness of messages conveying the worsening or reduction of environmental harms at discouraging red meat consumption. 1078 U.S. adults viewed seven messages in an online survey highlighting the reduction or worsening of environmental harms associated with eating red meat (between-subjects factor) and rated the messages on how much they discouraged them from wanting to buy beef. Each message highlighted a different environmental harm: deforestation, climate change, water shortages, biodiversity loss, carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, or environment (within-subjects factor). No statistically significant difference was found between the reduction and worsening of environmental harms conditions for most topics, though the worsening of harms frame slightly outperformed the reduction of harms frame for the ‘environment’ topic. ‘Environment’ was also the message topic that elicited the strongest response from participants overall. Latino participants, those with more than a high school degree, and those who consume beef once a week or less rated messages as more effective than non-Latino participants, those who completed high school or less, and those who consumed beef more than once a week. Future research should explore the effect of messages on behavioral outcomes.
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17
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Hall MG, Grummon AH, Higgins ICA, Lazard AJ, Prestemon CE, Avendaño-Galdamez MI, Taillie LS. The impact of pictorial health warnings on purchases of sugary drinks for children: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS Med 2022; 19:e1003885. [PMID: 35104297 PMCID: PMC8806063 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pictorial warnings on tobacco products are promising for motivating behavior change, but few studies have examined pictorial warnings for sugary drinks, especially in naturalistic environments. This study aimed to examine the impact of pictorial warnings on parents' purchases of sugary drinks for their children in a naturalistic store laboratory. METHODS AND FINDINGS Parents of children ages 2 to 12 (n = 325, 25% identifying as Black, 20% Hispanic) completed a shopping task in a naturalistic store laboratory in North Carolina. Participants were randomly assigned to a pictorial warnings arm (sugary drinks displayed pictorial health warnings about type 2 diabetes and heart damage) or a control arm (sugary drinks displayed a barcode label). Parents selected 1 beverage and 1 snack for their child, as well as 1 household good; one of these items was selected for them to purchase and take home. The primary outcome was whether parents purchased a sugary drink for their child. Secondary outcomes included reactions to the trial labels, attitudes toward sugary drinks, and intentions to serve their child sugary drinks. Pictorial warnings led to a 17-percentage point reduction in purchases of sugary drinks (95% CI for reduction: 7% to 27%), with 45% of parents in the control arm buying a sugary drink for their child compared to 28% in the pictorial warning arm (p = 0.002). The impact of pictorial warnings on purchases did not differ by any of the 13 participant characteristics examined (e.g., race/ethnicity, income, education, and age of child). Pictorial warnings also led to lower calories (kcal), purchased from sugary drinks (82 kcal in the control arm versus 52 kcal in the pictorial warnings arm, p = 0.003). Moreover, pictorial warnings led to lower intentions to serve sugary drinks to their child, feeling more in control of healthy eating decisions, greater thinking about the harms of sugary drinks, stronger negative emotional reactions, greater anticipated social interactions, lower perceived healthfulness of sugary drinks for their child, and greater injunctive norms to limit sugary drinks for their child (all p < 0.05). There was no evidence of difference between trial arms on noticing of the labels, appeal of sugary drinks, perceived amount of added sugar in sugary drinks, risk perceptions, or perceived tastiness of sugary drinks (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pictorial warnings reduced parents' purchases of sugary drinks for their children in this naturalistic trial. Warnings on sugary drinks are a promising policy approach to reduce sugary drink purchasing in the US. TRIAL REGISTRATION The trial design, measures, power calculation, and analytic plan were registered before data collection at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT04223687.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa G. Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Anna H. Grummon
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Isabella C. A. Higgins
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Allison J. Lazard
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Carmen E. Prestemon
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Mirian I. Avendaño-Galdamez
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
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Clarke N, Blackwell AKM, De-Loyde K, Pechey E, Hobson A, Pilling M, Morris RW, Marteau TM, Hollands GJ. Health warning labels and alcohol selection: a randomised controlled experiment in a naturalistic shopping laboratory. Addiction 2021; 116:3333-3345. [PMID: 33861881 DOI: 10.1111/add.15519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Health warning labels (HWLs) on tobacco products reduce smoking. There is an absence of evidence concerning the impact of alcohol HWLs on selection or purchasing in naturalistic settings. Using a commercial-standard naturalistic shopping laboratory, this study aimed to estimate the impact on selection of alcoholic drinks of HWLs describing adverse health consequences of excessive alcohol consumption. DESIGN A between-subjects randomised experiment with three groups was conducted: group 1: image-and-text HWL; group 2: text-only HWL; group 3: no HWL. SETTING A commercial-standard naturalistic shopping laboratory in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS Adults (n = 399, 55% female) over the age of 18 years, who purchased beer or wine weekly to drink at home. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomised to one of three groups varying in the HWL displayed on the packaging of the alcoholic drinks: (i) image-and-text HWL (n = 135); (ii) text-only HWL (n = 129); (iii) no HWL (n = 135). Participants completed a shopping task, selecting items from a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and snacks. MEASUREMENT The primary outcome was the proportion of alcoholic drinks selected. Secondary outcomes included HWL ratings on negative emotional arousal and label acceptability. FINDINGS There was no clear evidence of a difference in the HWL groups for the percentage of drinks selected that were alcoholic compared to no HWL (44%): image-and-text HWL: 46% (odds ratio [OR] = 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.82, 1.42); text-only HWL: 41% (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.67, 1.14). Concordant with there being no difference between groups, there was extreme evidence in favour of the null hypothesis (Bayes factor [BF] < 0.01). Negative emotional arousal was higher (P < 0.001) and acceptability lower (P < 0.001) in the image-and-text HWL group, compared to the text-only HWL group. CONCLUSIONS In a naturalistic shopping laboratory, there was no evidence that health warning labels describing the adverse health consequences of excessive alcohol consumption changed selection behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Clarke
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anna K M Blackwell
- Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Katie De-Loyde
- Tobacco and Alcohol Research Group, School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Emily Pechey
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alice Hobson
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mark Pilling
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Theresa M Marteau
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gareth J Hollands
- Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Kokole D, Anderson P, Jané-Llopis E. Nature and Potential Impact of Alcohol Health Warning Labels: A Scoping Review. Nutrients 2021; 13:3065. [PMID: 34578942 PMCID: PMC8469468 DOI: 10.3390/nu13093065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol is toxic to human health. In addition to providing nutritional information, labels on alcohol products can be used to communicate warnings on alcohol-related harms to consumers. This scoping review examined novel or enhanced health warning labels to assess the current state of the research and the key studied characteristics of labels, along with their impact on the studied outcomes. Four databases (Web of Science, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, CINAHL) were searched between January 2010 and April 2021, and 27 papers were included in the review. The results found that most studies were undertaken in English-speaking populations, with the majority conducted online or in the laboratory setting as opposed to the real world. Seventy percent of the papers included at least one cancer-related message, in most instances referring either to cancer in general or to bowel cancer. Evidence from the only real-world long-term labelling intervention demonstrated that alcohol health warning labels designed to be visible and contain novel and specific information have the potential to be part of an effective labelling strategy. Alcohol health warning labels should be seen as tools to raise awareness on alcohol-related risks, being part of wider alcohol policy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daša Kokole
- Department of Health Promotion, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, POB 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (P.A.); (E.J.-L.)
| | - Peter Anderson
- Department of Health Promotion, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, POB 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (P.A.); (E.J.-L.)
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AX, UK
| | - Eva Jané-Llopis
- Department of Health Promotion, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, POB 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; (P.A.); (E.J.-L.)
- ESADE Business School, University Ramon Llull, Avenida de Pedralbes, 60-62, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, CAMH, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada
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Hall MG, Lazard AJ, Grummon AH, Higgins ICA, Bercholz M, Richter APC, Taillie LS. Designing warnings for sugary drinks: A randomized experiment with Latino parents and non-Latino parents. Prev Med 2021; 148:106562. [PMID: 33878350 PMCID: PMC8958622 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Sugary drink warnings are a promising policy for reducing sugary drink consumption, but it remains unknown how to design warnings to maximize their impact overall and among diverse population groups, including parents of Latino ethnicity and parents with low English use. In 2019, we randomized US parents of children ages 2-12 (n = 1078, 48% Latino ethnicity, 13% low English use) to one topic (one of four warnings, or a neutral control), which they viewed on three designs (text-only, icon, and graphic) to assess reactions to the various warnings on sugary drinks. All warning topics were perceived as more effective than the control (average differential effect [ADE] ranged from 1.77 to 1.84 [5-point Likert scale], all p < .001). All warning topics also led to greater thinking about harms of sugary drinks (all p < .001) and lower purchase intentions (all p < .01). Compared to text-only warnings, icon (ADE = 0.18) and graphic warnings (ADE = 0.30) elicited higher perceived message effectiveness, as well as greater thinking about the harms of sugary drinks, lower perceived healthfulness, and lower purchase intentions (all p < .001). The impact of icon warnings (vs. text warnings) was stronger for parents with low English use, compared to those with high English use (p = .024). Similarly, the impact of icon (vs. text warnings) was stronger for Latino parents than non-Latino parents (p = .034). This experimental study indicates that many warning topics hold promise for behavior change and that including images with warnings could increase warning efficacy, particularly among Latino parents and parents with low English use. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04382599.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa G Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Allison J Lazard
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Hussman School of Journalism and Media, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Anna H Grummon
- Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Maxime Bercholz
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ana Paula C Richter
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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