Will plain packaging of cigarettes achieve the expected? Perceptions among medical students
Introduction Plain packaging is one of the critical strategies in eliminating the promotion of tobacco products. Evidence indicates that plain packaging decreases the attractiveness of tobacco products and enhances the effectiveness of health warnings. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
European Publishing
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Will-plain-packaging-of-cigarettes-achieve-the-expected-nPerceptions-among-medical,154056,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1797988787657113600 |
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| author | Pinar Ay Yesim Yasin Osman Elbek Murat Guner Tanzer Gezer Ummuhan Pece Sonmez Murat Ceyhan Fusun Yildiz Elif Dagli |
| author_facet | Pinar Ay Yesim Yasin Osman Elbek Murat Guner Tanzer Gezer Ummuhan Pece Sonmez Murat Ceyhan Fusun Yildiz Elif Dagli |
| author_sort | Pinar Ay |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction
Plain packaging is one of the critical strategies in eliminating the
promotion of tobacco products. Evidence indicates that plain packaging decreases
the attractiveness of tobacco products and enhances the effectiveness of health
warnings. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of undergraduate medical
students of plain packaging and new pictorial warnings before they came into
use in Turkey.
Methods
This qualitative study was carried out among undergraduate students
in a Medical School in Istanbul in 2019. Participants were recruited through
purposive sampling, and data were collected through focus group discussions.
The participants were asked to discuss their perceptions regarding one original
branded pack and ten plain package models. All discussions were audiotaped and
thematic content analysis was conducted.
Results
A total of 72 students participated in the study. None of the students had
seen plain packaging before. Most of the students perceived plain packaging as
more favorable compared to the branded packs. The terms used to describe plain
package were: ‘appealing/desirable’, ‘attractive’, ‘beautiful’, ‘cool/eye-catching’,
‘charming’, ‘elegant’, and ‘special’. Some students indicated that they would have
preferred plain packs over the branded ones if both types of products had been
in the market and provided they were of the same brand. Pictorials had different
impacts based on their content. At the same time, outer body deformities were
perceived as ‘real’ and provoked unfavorable feelings; inner organ images were
defined as ‘imaginary’ and had little to no impact.
Conclusions
Plain packaging was perceived as a more attractive alternative to the
conventional branded packs among most participants. We must be aware of the
unforeseen effects of plain packaging among different subgroups in the new
generations. We suggest using outer body deformities in the pictorials more
frequently due to their higher impact. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:09:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b39bcc0abe98493da2433eba59f182d9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1617-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:09:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | European Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-b39bcc0abe98493da2433eba59f182d92022-12-22T04:35:26ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252022-10-0120October1910.18332/tid/154056154056Will plain packaging of cigarettes achieve the expected? Perceptions among medical studentsPinar Ay0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3303-1343Yesim Yasin1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3188-3999Osman Elbek2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8968-2436Murat Guner3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7050-893XTanzer Gezer4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1215-6179Ummuhan Pece Sonmez5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4653-5452Murat Ceyhan6https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1407-058XFusun Yildiz7https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4810-7301Elif Dagli8https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6104-3248Department of Public Health, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, TurkeyDepartment of Public Health, Acibadem University School of Medicine, Istanbul, TurkeyClinic of Pulmonary Medicine, Kadikoy Florence Nightingale Medical Center, Istanbul, TurkeyHealth Institute Association, Istanbul, TurkeyHealth Institute Association, Istanbul, TurkeyHealth Institute Association, Istanbul, TurkeyFaculty of Law, Kadir Has University, Istanbul, TurkeyDepartment of Pulmonary Diseases, Dr. Suat Gunsel University of Kyrenia Hospital, Kyrenia, CyprusHealth Institute Association, Istanbul, TurkeyIntroduction Plain packaging is one of the critical strategies in eliminating the promotion of tobacco products. Evidence indicates that plain packaging decreases the attractiveness of tobacco products and enhances the effectiveness of health warnings. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of undergraduate medical students of plain packaging and new pictorial warnings before they came into use in Turkey. Methods This qualitative study was carried out among undergraduate students in a Medical School in Istanbul in 2019. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling, and data were collected through focus group discussions. The participants were asked to discuss their perceptions regarding one original branded pack and ten plain package models. All discussions were audiotaped and thematic content analysis was conducted. Results A total of 72 students participated in the study. None of the students had seen plain packaging before. Most of the students perceived plain packaging as more favorable compared to the branded packs. The terms used to describe plain package were: ‘appealing/desirable’, ‘attractive’, ‘beautiful’, ‘cool/eye-catching’, ‘charming’, ‘elegant’, and ‘special’. Some students indicated that they would have preferred plain packs over the branded ones if both types of products had been in the market and provided they were of the same brand. Pictorials had different impacts based on their content. At the same time, outer body deformities were perceived as ‘real’ and provoked unfavorable feelings; inner organ images were defined as ‘imaginary’ and had little to no impact. Conclusions Plain packaging was perceived as a more attractive alternative to the conventional branded packs among most participants. We must be aware of the unforeseen effects of plain packaging among different subgroups in the new generations. We suggest using outer body deformities in the pictorials more frequently due to their higher impact.http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Will-plain-packaging-of-cigarettes-achieve-the-expected-nPerceptions-among-medical,154056,0,2.htmlplain packagingpictorialstobaccoqualitative study |
| spellingShingle | Pinar Ay Yesim Yasin Osman Elbek Murat Guner Tanzer Gezer Ummuhan Pece Sonmez Murat Ceyhan Fusun Yildiz Elif Dagli Will plain packaging of cigarettes achieve the expected? Perceptions among medical students Tobacco Induced Diseases plain packaging pictorials tobacco qualitative study |
| title | Will plain packaging of cigarettes achieve the expected?
Perceptions among medical students |
| title_full | Will plain packaging of cigarettes achieve the expected?
Perceptions among medical students |
| title_fullStr | Will plain packaging of cigarettes achieve the expected?
Perceptions among medical students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Will plain packaging of cigarettes achieve the expected?
Perceptions among medical students |
| title_short | Will plain packaging of cigarettes achieve the expected?
Perceptions among medical students |
| title_sort | will plain packaging of cigarettes achieve the expected perceptions among medical students |
| topic | plain packaging pictorials tobacco qualitative study |
| url | http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Will-plain-packaging-of-cigarettes-achieve-the-expected-nPerceptions-among-medical,154056,0,2.html |
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