Associations Between Pro/Anti-Tobacco Media and Messaging Exposure and Knowledge and Support of Smoke-Free Policy Among Adults in Armenia and Georgia.

Abstract

Despite high smoking rates, Armenia and Georgia recently adopted smoke-free policies (2022 and 2018). We examined associations between exposure to pro-tobacco media (news opposing smoke-free policies; cigarette, e-cigarette, heated tobacco product [HTP] advertisements) and anti-tobacco media (media, community-based action) and (1) knowledge that the policies applied to alternative tobacco products (ATPs), and (2) support for the policies applying to ATPs and various settings. We analyzed 2022 survey data. Data were from 28 communities in Armenia and Georgia. The sample comprised 1468 adults (31.6% past-month smokers). We conducted multivariable regressions, controlling for country and sociodemographics. Participants were knowledgeable that the policy applied to ATPs (79.2%) and supportive of them applying to ATPs and various settings (means = 3.43 and 3.00; 1-4 = strongly support). Greater exposure to anti-tobacco media/community-based action correlated with more likely knowing that the policies applied to ATPs and greater support of the policies applying to various settings; HTP advertisement exposure correlated with less support of the policies applying to various settings. Less exposure to news opposing smoke-free policies and greater exposure to media supporting such policies correlated with greater support of the policies applying to ATPs. Media and community-based action may promote smoke-free policy knowledge and support. HTP advertisements may uniquely undermine smoke-free policies.