The Role of Pictorial Cigarette Pack Warnings on the Attitude and Behavior of Smokers

Background and purpose: The World Health Organization predicts more than 8 million deaths until 2030 as a result of tobacco use. Pictorial cigarette pack warnings have a major role on the cognitive and emotional reactions, and the first intention to smoking cessation. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of pictorial cigarette pack warnings on smokers’ attitudes and behavior. This cross-sectional study was done in 450 male smokers (>15 years of age) in Babol, Iran. They were selected using purposeful random sampling and data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire. Data analysis was done in SPSS V19 applying one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. The mean age of participants was 42.5 ± 14.7 years. Pictorial cigarette pack warnings caused changes in feelings towards smoking (11.3%), feeling of danger (17.65%), reduced consumption (16.25%), and thoughts of quitting smoking (11.15%). Pictorial cigarette pack warnings were significantly associated with the attitudes towards smoking (p<0.001). Pictorial cigarette pack warnings play a role in changing the attitudes of smokers and reducing cigarette consumption, therefore, further attention is needed on creating more useful warnings.