Misperceptions about smoking reported in recent surveys
| Date of survey | Reference | Survey method and sample | Knowledge/belief question | Response to question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 48 | Nationwide telephone survey of 335 current and recent ex-smokers | “Do you know the tar level of the cigarette you smoke?” | 79% said no |
| 1995 | 47 | Nationwide telephone survey of 737 current smokers | “Do you think your risk of a myocardial infarction (or cancer) is higher, the same, or lower than other (men/women) your age?” | Only 29% and 40% of smokers believed they have a higher average risk of myocardial infarction or cancer, respectively |
| 1996 | 46 | Telephone survey of 142 Light and Ultra Light cigarette smokers in Massachusetts | “Does your current brand have any rings of holes on the filter?” | Less than 20% of respondents answered yes, even though most Light and Ultra Light brands have ventilated filter tips |
| 1997 | 50 | In-person intercept survey of a convenience sample of 52 current and 24 former smokers. | “Do you think a filter makes a cigarette safer than the same cigarette without a filter? | 58% answered “yes” |
| 2001 | 51 | Nationwide telephone survey of 1046 current smokers | “Has the addition of filters made cigarette smoking less dangerous? “Has the reduction of tar in made cigarette smoking less dangerous?” | 65% answered “yes” or “don't know” to the filter question. 64% answered “yes” or “don't know” to the tar reduction question |