Impact of pictorial health warnings on Vietnamese male smokers' knowledge of smoking harms
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1
Hanoi University of Public Health, Centre for Population Health Sciences, Viet Nam
2
International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Viet Nam
3
Vietnam Public Health Association, Viet Nam
4
Hanoi University of Public Health, Faculty of Environmental and Occupational Health, Viet Nam
Publication date: 2018-03-01
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2018;16(Suppl 1):A210
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ABSTRACT
Background:
In 2012, Vietnam National Assembly approved the first
ever Law on Prevention and Control
of Tobacco Harms. Enacted by the Law, since May 2013, pictorial health warnings
(PHWs) covered 50% of the cigarette pack was obliged
to print on all cigarette products. This study aims to assess the impact
of PHWs on smokers' knowledge of smoking harms.
Methods:
Two rounds of a cross-sectional study were
conducted in 6 provinces of Vietnam. The 1st round was in May 2014 which
was before the deadline for manufacturers to print PHWs (July 2014). The 2nd
round was in May 2015. Around 1,500 male smokers aged 18 to 35 were interviewed
in each round. Respondents were asked to give their level of agreement towards
6 statements described the health consequences of smoking (same as the messages
in PHWs). Based on their responses, the knowledge score was calculated.
Results:
Smokers' average knowledge score on smoking
harms in round 2 (M=22.5, SD=3.7) was 0.86 point higher than in round 1 of the
study (M=23.4, SD=3.7) which is statistically significant (t(2949)=6.3,
p< 0.001). Although there is no difference on average knowledge score between
urban and rural and among different age groups, the positive association
between education level and average knowledge score is significant (F(5;2495) =
6.1, p< 0.001). Indeed, those with higher education are more likely to have
higher average knowledge score. However, between the 1st and 2nd
round, the increase of average knowledge score among those with lower level of
education (high school and below) is significantly greater than those with higher
level of education (university and above) (t(2875)=3.9, p< 0.001).
Conclusions:
PHWs consist of pictures and accompanying health
warning messages have a certain impact on raising smokers' knowledge on smoking
harms. Besides, the PHWs also help reduce the health disparities between groups
with different level of education.