The purpose of this study is to determine whether different cigarillo warning formats (pictorial, FDA-proposed text-only, current Surgeon General text-only) reduces demand for cigarillos. A previous study has identified that pictorial cigarillo warnings are perceived as more effective, but more information is needed on their impact. This study will address this issue by randomizing participants to see different cigarillo warning formats on cigarillo products within an online experimental tobacco marketplace. Participants will be cigarillo users who are ages 21-35.
Warning labels on tobacco products convey the health risks and discourage use. Warnings are even more effective when they contain images that depict the health consequences. However, little is known about the impact of cigarillo warnings, including pictorial warnings, on consumer behavior. The Experimental Tobacco Marketplace (ETM) task examines the effects of regulations on tobacco purchasing in the context of a complex tobacco marketplace. This project aims to address the gap in the knowledge about cigarillo risk communication by providing information on best practices for cigarillo warnings. Identifying effective cigarillo warnings is important to inform policy and guide research on effectively communicating risk to ultimately decrease use and tobacco-related morbidity and mortality.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
1,578
Participants will complete 6 mock shopping trips in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace, and be asked to spend their weekly tobacco budget. Cigarillos in the Marketplace will have one of three cigarillo warnings in the Surgeon General Text-Only format.
Participants will complete 6 mock shopping trips in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace, and be asked to spend their weekly tobacco budget. Cigarillos in the Marketplace will have one of three cigarillo warnings in the FDA Proposed Text-Only format.
Participants will complete 6 mock shopping trips in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace, and be asked to spend their weekly tobacco budget. Cigarillos in the Marketplace will have one of three cigarillo warnings in the Pictorial format.
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Average Total Number of Cigarillos Purchased
Participants in each arm will participate in six mock shopping trips with a specified budget. They will purchase (mock) single cigarillos. The primary outcome is the average number of cigarillos purchased during each of the six mock shopping trips.
Time frame: Within the 20-minute survey
Average Total Amount of mg Combusted Tobacco Purchased
Participants will participate in six mock shopping trips with a specified budget. They will have the option to purchase (mock) tobacco products in addition to cigarillos: cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, e-cigarettes/vaping devices, oral nicotine. This outcome will be the sum mg of the number of combusted non-cigarillo tobacco products purchased during each of the six mock shopping trips
Time frame: Within the 20-minute survey
Average Total Amount of mg Non-combusted Tobacco Purchased
Participants will participate in six mock shopping trips with a specified budget. They will have the option to purchase (mock) tobacco products in addition to cigarillos: cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, e-cigarettes/vaping devices, oral nicotine. This outcome will be the sum mg of the number of non-combusted tobacco products purchased during each of the six mock shopping trips.
Time frame: Within the 20-minute survey
Intensity Index for Cigarillos
Number of cigarillos purchased at lowest price, averaged across the six shopping trips
Time frame: Within the 20 minute survey.
Cost Related Indices for Cigarillos
Omax is the maximum amount spent on cigarillos across all shopping trips. Breakpoint is the price where no cigarillos were purchased. Pmax is the price where Omax occurs.
Time frame: Within the 20-minute survey
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Rate of Change for Cigarillo Demand
The rate of change for cigarillo demand is called Alpha, which is the rate constant of fitted Exponentiated Demand Equation. It is calculated with the Exponentiated Demand Equation, Q=Q0\*10\^k(e-αQ0C -1), where Q is the mg of nicotine purchased at a given price, Q0 is peak demand consumption or intensity (typically occurring at the lowest price), k is a constant across all compared conditions, and alpha (α) is the rate of change in demand or elasticity.
Time frame: Within the 20-minute survey