How state counter-industry campaigns help prime perceptions of tobacco industry practices to promote reductions in youth smoking.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Repeated cross-sectional comparative study evaluating state-level policy exposure over time (non-clinical design analogy)
PubMed 16319360 · doi:10.1136/tc.2004.010785
What was done
Analyzed repeated national telephone survey data collected between 1999 and 2002 among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years to evaluate the association between state counter-industry media campaigns and youth cigarette smoking. Smoking trends were compared across three state groups: long-funded campaigns (California, Florida, Massachusetts), recently funded campaigns (Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey), and all other states. The analysis controlled for demographic background, cigarette price, secular trends, general tobacco control efforts, and exposure to the national truth campaign.
What was found
Between 1999 and 2002, rates of current smoking and established smoking decreased significantly faster in states with established or newly funded counter-industry campaigns than in other states. The abstract provides no numerical rates, odds ratios, or confidence intervals.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that state-level counter-industry campaigns contribute to reductions in youth smoking independently of national campaigns and cigarette price changes.
Limits
The abstract omits the sample size, numerical effect sizes, and response rates. The observational design and reliance on self-reported telephone survey data leave room for residual confounding across state populations.
Cited by
- supports Anti-smoking advertisements in the 1990s and early 2000s depicting tobacco executives getting rich while causing health problems were effective at getting teenagers to quit or avoid smoking.