Perception of Advertising of Tobacco Products and Warnings about the Harmfulness of Smoking by Smokers

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Advertising of tobacco products contributes to the increase in the number of smokers. Also in Poland, the regulations in force prohibit advertising and promotion of tobacco products, symbols related to their use, as well as tobacco props and products imitating them. This prohibition applies to the promotion and advertising of tobacco products, including in public places, schools, health care institutions, but also on television, radio, in the press, cinemas and on billboards. The 6 effective actions of the MPOWER package of the World Health Organization, which may limit the consumption of tobacco products in society, include the elimination of marketing practices violating the ban on promotion and advertising of tobacco products, as well as warning and informing about health risks related to the use of tobacco. According to research, graphic health warnings on tobacco products are effective. They reliably reach tobacco users every time they use these products. Aim The aim of the study was to assess the perception of advertisements for tobacco products and warnings about the harmful effects of smoking by smokers. Material and methods A survey conducted in 2015. 114 smokers from Piotrków County. The research tool was a questionnaire. The Bioethics Committee of the Medical University of Lodz issued a positive opinion on the study (RNN/243/15/KE). Results During the last 30 days, smokers most often encountered information on the harmful effects of smoking on television (54%) and in newspapers or magazines (52%). Within the last 30 days, 97% of respondents saw information on the dangers of smoking on cigarette packets. 54% of smokers, under the influence of health warnings on cigarette packets, considered stopping smoking in the last 30 days. Smokers noticed forms of promotion of cigarettes: as many as 16% of respondents noticed free cigarette samples, 13% of discounted cigarettes. 36% of smokers believed that advertising and displaying tobacco products at points of sale did not affect the type of product purchased. Conclusions There is a need for interventions to alert against the dangers of smoking. Rules to ban tobacco display and smoke warning can help reduce smoking.