Tobacco-control policy support among people from low socioeconomic positions in Massachusetts
People from low socioeconomic positions (SEP) are at a higher risk of smoking, face greater barriers to smoking cessation, and have lower access to health information. To improve tobacco-related health outcomes, policies requiring altering labeling on cigarette packs could be implemented. However, p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Preventive Medicine Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335523002279 |
| _version_ | 1797680850360336384 |
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| author | Coralia Vázquez-Otero Mesfin A. Bekalu Dhriti Dhawan Kasisomayajula Viswanath |
| author_facet | Coralia Vázquez-Otero Mesfin A. Bekalu Dhriti Dhawan Kasisomayajula Viswanath |
| author_sort | Coralia Vázquez-Otero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | People from low socioeconomic positions (SEP) are at a higher risk of smoking, face greater barriers to smoking cessation, and have lower access to health information. To improve tobacco-related health outcomes, policies requiring altering labeling on cigarette packs could be implemented. However, public support is needed to influence the policymaking process. We assessed factors associated with supporting tobacco-control communication policies. We analyzed data from Project CLEAR, a study conducted in Massachusetts. The analytic sample included participants who answered questions on their support for three policies: 1) graphic health warnings (GHWs), 2) Quitline number, and 3) smoking cessation information on cigarette packs (n = 357). Binomial logistic regression modeling was conducted by policy. Independent variables included demographic characteristics and smoking status. We found that younger vs. older individuals (aOR = 0.41, 95 %CI:0.23–0.72), males vs. females (aOR = 0.58, 95 %CI:0.35–0.96), and people who smoke vs. those who don’t smoke (aOR = 0.41, 95 %CI:0.24–0.70) were less likely to support a law requiring GHWs. Participants with a low vs. higher level of education (aOR = 0.55, 95 %CI:0.32–0.95) were less likely to support a law requiring a Quitline number. Younger (18–39) vs. older individuals (aOR = 0.53, 95 %CI:0.29–0.94), males vs. females (aOR = 0.57, 95 %CI:0.34–0.96), and participants with a low vs. higher level of education (aOR = 0.56, 95 %CI:0.32–0.98) were less likely to support a law requiring cessation information on cigarette packs. Findings suggest that targeted theory-based public health and communication strategies should be developed to increase awareness and support towards policies that would help reduce cigarette smoking among people from low SEP to eliminate tobacco-related health inequities in the US. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:36:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c07f8c0386ac4608a0a8f269ba1cdfa7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2211-3355 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:36:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Preventive Medicine Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-c07f8c0386ac4608a0a8f269ba1cdfa72023-09-20T04:21:05ZengElsevierPreventive Medicine Reports2211-33552023-10-0135102336Tobacco-control policy support among people from low socioeconomic positions in MassachusettsCoralia Vázquez-Otero0Mesfin A. Bekalu1Dhriti Dhawan2Kasisomayajula Viswanath3Department of Public Health, College for Health, Community and Policy, University of Texas at San Antonio, TX, USA; Corresponding author.Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USADepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USADepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USAPeople from low socioeconomic positions (SEP) are at a higher risk of smoking, face greater barriers to smoking cessation, and have lower access to health information. To improve tobacco-related health outcomes, policies requiring altering labeling on cigarette packs could be implemented. However, public support is needed to influence the policymaking process. We assessed factors associated with supporting tobacco-control communication policies. We analyzed data from Project CLEAR, a study conducted in Massachusetts. The analytic sample included participants who answered questions on their support for three policies: 1) graphic health warnings (GHWs), 2) Quitline number, and 3) smoking cessation information on cigarette packs (n = 357). Binomial logistic regression modeling was conducted by policy. Independent variables included demographic characteristics and smoking status. We found that younger vs. older individuals (aOR = 0.41, 95 %CI:0.23–0.72), males vs. females (aOR = 0.58, 95 %CI:0.35–0.96), and people who smoke vs. those who don’t smoke (aOR = 0.41, 95 %CI:0.24–0.70) were less likely to support a law requiring GHWs. Participants with a low vs. higher level of education (aOR = 0.55, 95 %CI:0.32–0.95) were less likely to support a law requiring a Quitline number. Younger (18–39) vs. older individuals (aOR = 0.53, 95 %CI:0.29–0.94), males vs. females (aOR = 0.57, 95 %CI:0.34–0.96), and participants with a low vs. higher level of education (aOR = 0.56, 95 %CI:0.32–0.98) were less likely to support a law requiring cessation information on cigarette packs. Findings suggest that targeted theory-based public health and communication strategies should be developed to increase awareness and support towards policies that would help reduce cigarette smoking among people from low SEP to eliminate tobacco-related health inequities in the US.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335523002279Low socioeconomic groupsCigarette useSmokingPolicy supportHealth communication |
| spellingShingle | Coralia Vázquez-Otero Mesfin A. Bekalu Dhriti Dhawan Kasisomayajula Viswanath Tobacco-control policy support among people from low socioeconomic positions in Massachusetts Preventive Medicine Reports Low socioeconomic groups Cigarette use Smoking Policy support Health communication |
| title | Tobacco-control policy support among people from low socioeconomic positions in Massachusetts |
| title_full | Tobacco-control policy support among people from low socioeconomic positions in Massachusetts |
| title_fullStr | Tobacco-control policy support among people from low socioeconomic positions in Massachusetts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tobacco-control policy support among people from low socioeconomic positions in Massachusetts |
| title_short | Tobacco-control policy support among people from low socioeconomic positions in Massachusetts |
| title_sort | tobacco control policy support among people from low socioeconomic positions in massachusetts |
| topic | Low socioeconomic groups Cigarette use Smoking Policy support Health communication |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211335523002279 |
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