RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Testing antismoking messages for Air Force trainees
JF Tobacco Control
JO Tob Control
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 656
OP 663
DO 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052477
VO 25
IS 6
A1 Lucy Popova
A1 Brittany D Linde
A1 Zoran Bursac
A1 G Wayne Talcott
A1 Mary V Modayil
A1 Melissa A Little
A1 Pamela M Ling
A1 Stanton A Glantz
A1 Robert C Klesges
YR 2016
UL http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/25/6/656.abstract
AB Introduction Young adults in the military are aggressively targeted by tobacco companies and are at high risk of tobacco use. Existing antismoking advertisements developed for the general population might be effective in educating young adults in the military. This study evaluated the effects of different themes of existing antismoking advertisements on perceived harm and intentions to use cigarettes and other tobacco products among Air Force trainees.Methods In a pretest–post-test experiment, 782 Airmen were randomised to view antismoking advertisements in 1 of 6 conditions: anti-industry, health effects+anti-industry, sexual health, secondhand smoke, environment+anti-industry or control. We assessed the effect of different conditions on changes in perceived harm and intentions to use cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, hookah and cigarillos from pretest to post-test with multivariable linear regression models (perceived harm) and zero-inflated Poisson regression model (intentions).Results Antismoking advertisements increased perceived harm of various tobacco products and reduced intentions to use. Advertisements featuring negative effects of tobacco on health and sexual performance coupled with revealing tobacco industry manipulations had the most consistent pattern of effects on perceived harm and intentions.Conclusions Antismoking advertisements produced for the general public might also be effective with a young adult military population and could have spillover effects on perceptions of harm and intentions to use other tobacco products besides cigarettes. Existing antismoking advertising may be a cost-effective tool to educate young adults in the military.