Impact of a gallery of posters on quitting smoking

When smokers enter a smoking cessation programme, their success in quitting depends on their stage of readiness to quit (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance). In a study of 570 smokers who were followed over 18 months following treatment, Prochaska and Goldstein1 found that the quit rate was lowest among precontemplators, higher among contemplators, and highest among those prepared for action.

To enhance smokers’ motivation to quit smoking, we designed a gallery of posters showing in a humorous way the different health disorders and damage associated with tobacco smoking. The National Institute of Respiratory Diseases in Mexico City developed the concept behind the campaign and sponsored and funded it. It is targeted to the general population of Mexico.

Nineteen posters were developed by students of graphic design from the National University of Mexico; their work was coordinated by the authors of this essay. Four posters related to cancer, one to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, six to environmental tobacco smoke exposure, one to osteoporosis, one to periodontal diseases, one to cutaneous lesions, three to vascular and heart diseases, and two to mortality.

To be included in the gallery, the posters had to be witty and visually attractive. Each poster has a legend, a saying, or a proverb referring to a particular disease or risk associated with smoking. In addition, each has an informational statement on the topic with a corresponding scientific citation.

We have offered the poster gallery to as many cultural, scientific, and academic centres (schools, …