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Chaffee BW, Donaldson CD, Couch ET, Andersen-Rodgers E, Guerra C, Cheng NF, Ameli N, Stupplebeen D, Farooq O, Wilkinson M, Gansky S, Zhang X, Hoeft K. "I think we can do without [tobacco]": support for policies to end the tobacco epidemic among California adolescents. Tob Control 2023:tc-2023-058288. [PMID: 38148144 PMCID: PMC11199374 DOI: 10.1136/tc-2023-058288] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The tobacco endgame, policies aiming to end the commercial tobacco epidemic, requires sustained public support, including among youth. We assessed endgame support among California (USA) adolescents, including their reasons and associated participant and policy-specific factors. METHODS Teens, Nicotine and Tobacco Project online surveys (n=4827) and focus groups were conducted in 2021 and 2022 among California residents aged 12-17 years. Cross-sectional survey participants were asked their agreement level with eight policy statements related to tobacco and/or cannabis sales restrictions, use in public places and use in multiunit housing. Ordered logistic regression modelled level of agreement according to respondent characteristics, behaviours and statement content. Qualitative data were collected through focus groups (n=51 participants), which were analysed to provide insight into support for different policies. RESULTS Most survey participants agreed or strongly agreed with tobacco product sales restrictions (72%-75%, depending on the policy), bans on use in public spaces (76%-82%) and smoke-free (79%) and vape-free (74%) apartment buildings. Support was stronger among younger, female, Asian and tobacco non-using participants and for policies directed at 'tobacco' (vs 'vapes' or cannabis), at flavoured tobacco (compared with all tobacco), and when statements featured 'should end' (vs 'not allowed'). Focus group participants who were supportive viewed policies as protecting children from harmful products, while those less supportive cited concerns about limiting adults' freedoms and unintended consequences. CONCLUSIONS Most participants supported strong tobacco control policies. Public communication that promotes broader endgame benefits besides protecting youth and accelerates industry denormalisation may counter youth concerns and further bolster their support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin W Chaffee
- Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Candice D Donaldson
- California Tobacco Prevention Program, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth T Couch
- Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth Andersen-Rodgers
- California Tobacco Prevention Program, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Claudia Guerra
- Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nancy F Cheng
- Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Niloufar Ameli
- Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David Stupplebeen
- California Tobacco Prevention Program, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Omara Farooq
- California Tobacco Prevention Program, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Monica Wilkinson
- California Tobacco Prevention Program, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Stuart Gansky
- Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Xueying Zhang
- California Tobacco Prevention Program, California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Kristin Hoeft
- Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Avishai A, Ribisl KM, Sheeran P. Realizing the Tobacco Endgame: Understanding and mobilizing public support for banning combustible cigarette sales in the United States. Soc Sci Med 2023; 327:115939. [PMID: 37172336 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115939] [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: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is little research on public support for banning the sale and purchase of combustible cigarettes even though a ban is an essential step towards achieving the endgame for tobacco products. PURPOSE We report the first studies designed to (a) examine predictors of support for a ban (Study 1), and (b) test interventions to increase such support (Studies 2-4). METHODS In Study 1, current, former, and never smokers (N = 479) were randomized to conditions measuring their willingness to ban the sale of cigarettes vs. an unspecified product. Smokers were randomized to a persuasive communication in Study 2 and a paradoxical thinking intervention in Study 3 (Ns = 300 and 302, respectively). In Study 4 (N = 336), we randomized smokers to self-persuasion and issue-framing interventions. RESULTS Whereas nonsmokers were willing to ban the sale of both cigarettes and equivalent products, current and former smokers exempted cigarettes from a ban. Reactance to prohibition and perceived effectiveness predicted willingness to ban cigarette sales in all three smoking status groups (Study 1). Neither persuasive communication nor paradoxical thinking increased support for banning cigarette sales in Studies 2-3. However, self-persuasion and framing the ban as "protecting Americans from avoidable harm" both led to increased support for banning cigarette sales (Study 4). CONCLUSIONS Reactance and doubt about the effectiveness of banning the sale of cigarettes are key barriers to supporting a ban. Self-persuasion and issue framing may be effective means of mobilizing policy support among smokers. The present research offers new insights relevant to promoting the "Tobacco Endgame" and helps specify directions for future research on public support for health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Avishai
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Kurt M Ribisl
- Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Paschal Sheeran
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, USA.
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