Abstract
Two years after implementation of the graphic health warning intervention in Vietnam, it is very important to evaluate the intervention's potential impact. The objective of this paper was to predict effects of graphic health warnings on cigarette packages, particularly in reducing cigarette demand and smoking-associated deaths in Vietnam. In this study, a discrete choice experiment (DCE) method was used to evaluate the potential impact of graphic tobacco health warnings on smoking demand. To predict the impact of GHWs on reducing premature deaths associated with smoking, we constructed different static models. We adapted the method developed by University of Toronto, Canada and found that GHWs had statistically significant impact on reducing cigarette demand (up to 10.1% through images of lung damage), resulting in an overall decrease of smoking prevalence in Vietnam. We also found that between 428,417- 646,098 premature deaths would be prevented as a result of the GHW intervention. The potential impact of the GHW labels on reducing premature smoking-associated deaths in Vietnam were shown to be stronger among lower socio-economic groups.
Highlights
Graphic health warnings (GHW) on tobacco packages are among the most direct and prominent means to increase consumer knowledge of the health risks and dangers related to tobacco use, encourage cessation and discourage uptake or relapse (Hammond, 2011; Thrasher et al, 2011)
We adapted the method developed by University of Toronto, Canada and found that GHWs had statistically significant impact on reducing cigarette demand, resulting in an overall decrease of smoking prevalence in Vietnam
We found that between 428,417- 646,098 premature deaths would be prevented as a result of the GHW intervention
Summary
Graphic health warnings (GHW) on tobacco packages are among the most direct and prominent means to increase consumer knowledge of the health risks and dangers related to tobacco use, encourage cessation and discourage uptake or relapse (Hammond, 2011; Thrasher et al, 2011). MPOWER, a WHO intervention strategy that concretizes the WHO FCTC recommendations, concludes that “Health warnings on tobacco packaging reach all smokers and cost governments nothing. A comprehensive national tobacco control law in Vietnam, the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, was enacted in June 2012 and was taken into effect on May 1, 2013, and its contents specifies “all cigarette brands in Vietnam started to be printed with graphic health warnings”. The WHO classified Vietnam as a country who reached the highest achievement on health warnings – a component of the MPOWER intervention strategy (World Health Organization, 2015)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
