Plain Packaging Of Tobacco Products Research Articles

Opportunities for plain packaging of tobacco products in the Philippines: results of a nationwide online survey.

This study aimed to contribute to local research evidence to promote the implementation of plain packaging of tobacco products in the Philippines. The study aimed to assess Filipinos' perception of the effectiveness of plain packaging and their readiness by assessing the potential impact of plain packaging. We conducted a nationwide geographically representative online panel survey with a sample size of 2,000 Filipinos. The survey recruited respondents 18-65 years old and residing in the Philippines, with 500 respondents each from the National Capital Region, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. We showed respondents six different mock-ups of cigarette packs in plain packaging, with two sizes of graphic health warnings (50 and 75%) and three plain packaging colors (black, white, and Pantone 448C). Using five-point Likert scales, participants rated their agreement with 18 items assessing readiness and rationales for plain packaging and 54 items related to pack design (9 items for 6 pack designs). The study showed that Filipinos recognize the value of adopting plain packaging with larger graphic health warning labels on tobacco products in the Philippines. Both non-smokers and smokers agreed that plain packaging has the potential to reduce the attractiveness and appeal of packs, prevent advertisement and promotion of tobacco products, reduce the ability of tobacco products to mislead consumers, increase the noticeability and effectiveness of the pictorial health warnings, increase recall of the pictorial health warnings, affect consumer perceptions of the attractiveness of the tobacco products and their relative safety, reduce youth experimentation with the use of tobacco products, prevent the use of tobacco brand variants as a promotional tool, prevent branding targeted toward youth, promote quitting among current users, and to more clearly inform consumers about the harmful effects of tobacco use. We recommend that policymakers pursue plain packaging as legislation or as part of a reform of the Philippines' graphic health warnings law. The law should target tobacco products sold in the Philippines.

Population-level interventions for the primary prevention of dementia: a complex evidence review

BackgroundDementia is a leading, global public health challenge. Recent evidence supporting a decrease in age-specific incidence of dementia in high-income countries (HICs) suggests that risk reduction is possible through improved life-course public health. Despite this, efforts to date have been heavily focused on individual-level approaches, which are unlikely to significantly reduce dementia prevalence or inequalities in dementia. In order to inform policy, we identified the population-level interventions for dementia risk reduction with the strongest evidence base. MethodsWe did this complex, multistage, evidence review to summarise the empirical, interventional evidence for population-level interventions to reduce or control each of the 12 modifiable life-course risk factors for dementia identified by the Lancet commission. We conducted a series of structured searches of peer-reviewed and grey literature databases (eg, Medline, Trip database, Cochrane library, Campbell Collaboration, the WHO, and Google Scholar), in January, March, and June, 2023. Search terms related to risk factors, prevention, and population-level interventions, without language restrictions. We extracted evidence of effectiveness and key contextual information to aid consideration and implementation of interventions by policymakers. We performed a narrative synthesis and evidence grading, and we derived a population-level dementia risk reduction intervention framework, structured by intervention type. This study is registered with PROSPERO, ID:CRD42023396193. FindingsWe identified clear and consistent evidence for the effectiveness of 26 population-level interventions to reduce the prevalence of nine of the risk factors, of which 23 have been empirically evaluated in HICs, and 16 in low-income and middle-income countries. We identified interventions that acted through fiscal levers (n=5; eg, removing primary school fees), marketing or advertising levers (n=5; eg, plain packaging of tobacco products), availability levers (n=8; eg, cleaner fuel replacement programmes for cooking stoves), and legislative levers (n=8; eg, mandated provision of hearing protective equipment at noisy workplaces). We were not able to recommend any interventions for diabetes (other than indirectly through action on obesity and physical inactivity), depression, or social isolation. InterpretationThis complex evidence review provides policymakers and public health professionals with an evidence-based framework to help develop and implement population-level approaches for dementia risk reduction that could significantly reduce the population's risk of dementia and reduce health inequalities. FundingNone.

Plain Packaging in Tobacco Control: A Bibliometric Analysis.

The tobacco epidemic is affecting 8 million people with 1.2 million deaths worldwide. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) Member States in 2003 to counter the growing tobacco menace. Articles 11 and 13 of WHO FCTC suggest plain packaging of tobacco products to reduce the visibility and make tobacco products look less attractive. The current bibliometric analysis was conducted to analyze the visibility and impact of the scientific productions contributing to plain packaging globally. The bibliometric analysis allowed a quantitative analysis of all scientific publications indexed in Scopus. The sample was defined using the keywords "plain packaging OR standardized packaging" AND "tobacco." Five broad bibliometric domains were assessed for analysis: namely, scientific production, authors, sources or journals, countries, and thematic areas using R programming v4.2.2 and VOSviewer. The total number of documents published regarding plain packaging in tobacco control from 1992 till mid-2022 was determined. Australia tops the list with 99 publications, followed by the United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Canada, France, India, Netherlands, Spain, and Egypt. The author citation network showcases the link between the 21 top documents, with a minimum of 50 citations per document. The two main indicators assessed were the total number of articles published in the journal and the h index. Bibliometric indicators in this study illustrated that scientific publications/efforts to implement the WHO FCTC guideline concerning plain packing laws were neglected in most countries.

An Evaluation of the Distributional Impact of Plain Packaging for Tobacco Products Across Socioeconomic Groups in Ireland

An Evaluation of the Distributional Impact of Plain Packaging for Tobacco Products Across Socioeconomic Groups in Ireland

The impact of cigarette prices on smoking onset and cessation: evidence from Vietnam

BackgroundVietnam is a country with very high smoking rates among men. According to a Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) conducted in 2015, the daily smoking prevalence among Vietnamese men was...

Opportunities for Plain Packaging of Tobacco Products in the Philippines: Results of a Nationwide Online Survey

Opportunities for Plain Packaging of Tobacco Products in the Philippines: Results of a Nationwide Online Survey

Plain packaging on tobacco products in France: Effectiveness on smokers' attitudes one year after implementation.

INTRODUCTIONNew packaging of tobacco products, with plain packaging and new enlarged health warnings, was made compulsory in France in 2017. This study aims to measure the impact of new packaging on smokers’ embarrassment and their motivation to quit smoking.METHODSData from Santé publique France 2016, 2017 and 2018 Health Barometer surveys were used. These randomized surveys were conducted by telephone with samples of 15216 (2016), 25319 (2017), and 9074 (2018) people aged 18–75 years. The association between smokers’ embarrassment and the influence of new packaging on motivation to quit smoking was studied using multivariate logistic regressions.RESULTSAfter the introduction of new plain packaging, the proportion of smokers who felt embarrassed taking out their pack of cigarettes in plain sight because of its appearance doubled in 2017 (11.9%, 95% CI: 10.2–13.9 vs 5.9%, 95% CI: 4.4–7.8 in 2016, p<0.001) and continued to increase in 2018 (15.5%, 95% CI: 13.7–17.5, p<0.01). In 2018, women were more embarrassed than men (OR=2.0; 95% CI: 1.5–2.6, p<0.001). In 2018, 26.8% (95% CI: 24.6–29.1) of smokers said the appearance of a pack of cigarettes motivated them to quit, and 22.5% (95% CI: 18.3–27.2) ex-smokers cited it as having motivated them to quit. Smokers who were embarrassed by displaying their pack were more likely to be motivated to quit because of the pack’s appearance. People with higher incomes were less likely to report motivation to quit due to the pack than people with the lowest income (OR=0.5; 95% CI: 0.3–0.7, p<0.001).CONCLUSIONSIn the French context, the new plain packaging of tobacco products probably had an impact on smokers’ perception of tobacco by increasing the embarrassment they felt when they took out their pack of cigarettes in plain sight. It also influenced the motivation to quit smoking, and more generally, it could contribute to the denormalization of tobacco.

Changes to cigarette packaging influence US consumers' choices: Results of two discrete-choice experiments to inform regulation.

INTRODUCTIONWhile plain packaging of tobacco products has emerged as a policy intervention to reduce smoking, regulators in the US have limited ability to implement plain packaging. We sought to identify the impact of subtle changes to cigarette packaging (Study 1) and how packaging design influenced participant choices based on appeal, harm, and style (Study 2).METHODSWe conducted two discrete-choice experiments with US adult smokers online in 2018. In Study 1 (n=285), we assessed participants’ selections based on subtle changes to pack design features (dimensions, color saturation, logo size). In Study 2 (n=284), we assessed three choices in which participants selected packs based on appeal, harmfulness, and best match to their personal style. Study 2 packs varied by color hue, design with different levels of organic labeling and natural imagery, and color saturation.RESULTSPack designs influenced smokers’ choices. In Study 1, pack dimensions and color saturation emerged as the most important features, and, in Study 2, design and color hue were the most influential characteristics.CONCLUSIONSRegulators should consider how the design of cigarette packages may influence consumers’ perceptions and choices.

Innovative policies and practices on warning and plain packaging of tobacco products

Innovative policies and practices on warning and plain packaging of tobacco products

HBSC Ireland and the public health community: partnerships and processes

Abstract When HBSC Ireland data was first collected in 1998, very few data on children's health was available. HBSC was seen as an opportunity for Public Health Practitioners and policy-makers to move towards evidence-informed practice. Public health practitioners are invited to liaise with the research team on questionnaire content. HBSC Ireland collaborates to ensure scientifically appropriate measures that can also assist in meeting policy goals. In 2014 the researchers worked with the policy lead for Tobacco to assess children's exposure to tobacco smoke &amp; their views of cigarette packaging. Findings were used to provide a rationale for new legislation on plain packaging for tobacco products and provide a baseline for policy evaluation. In 2018 we worked with the Health Research Board Evidence Centre to develop items on alcohol procurement and location of consumption. A partnership with the Institute of Public Health lead to the inclusion of new items on exposures to UV light and sun protection. This work is being used to develop public health messaging for children and parents by the national cancer control programme. A strategic partnership between HBSC Ireland and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has enabled the extensive use of HBSC data in the monitoring of the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures policy framework for children &amp; young people. This has included adopting existing international survey items as indicators and developing new items to fill gaps in the available evidence base. The core principles of these initiatives include transparency; background conceptual &amp; methodological materials are prepared &amp; pilot studies are published. A key element of Knowledge Translation work is our helpdesk, providing analyses to public &amp; community bodies for the purposes of practice, research or policy. More than 50 short reports have been provided as part of this service to the public health community in Ireland.

The plain packaging of tobacco products and its recognition by the WTO as a legitimate policy measure for the protection of public health

Introduction: the adoption by the WTO DSB of the Panel Reports that resolved the disputes against the Australian tobacco plain packaging scheme unveil important aspects of international health law intertwined with international trade law. Objectives: this paper aims at understanding the concept of plain packaging and the scope of the WTO decision for countries envisaging the adoption of similar measures in policymaking. The research questions are descriptive and encompass how the position expressed by the WTO DSB affects the WHO FCTC and what legal reasoning the referred decision used. Methodology: a historical method is employed to identify the origins of plain packaging and the main concerns and challenges surrounding it, whilst a discursive analysis of the Panel Reports allows an interpretation of its basic principles and possible implications for public health policies. Results and discussion: from a microeconomic policy analysis, the standardization of tobacco packets is a reasonable regulatory approach at a government’s disposal for addressing welfare losses due to externalities and internalities. Although there is no consensus on the empirical evidence supporting plain packaging, its assessment by the WTO Panel played a vital role in the decision rendered, notably with respect to Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement and Article 20 of the TRIPS Agreement. Conclusion: Honduras and Dominican Republic have appealed and consequently a final ruling is still pending. Nonetheless, the decision is so far a recognition under WTO law of a State’s regulatory autonomy to implement the necessary measures on behalf of public health.

Evaluation of the regulations on plain packaging of tobacco products in Turkey from a trade mark perspective

Evaluation of the regulations on plain packaging of tobacco products in Turkey from a trade mark perspective

A health professional's guide to the intersection of public health with intellectual property rights in trade and investment: the case of tobacco plain packaging.

Intellectual property law is a crucial determinant of global public health, capable of both endangering and facilitating advances in the health of populations. This Viewpoint explains the most important aspects of the interaction between intellectual property law and public health. We use the plain packaging of tobacco products to illustrate how public health policies may be subject to scrutiny under existing trade and investment law structures. Plain packaging of tobacco products is challenging to implement due to legal complexities and uncertainties surrounding the status of mandated plain packaging for consumer products. While the tobacco industry and its proponents once relied on the denial of scientific evidence to delay legislation and influence consumers, its tactics have shifted to the use of trade threats and investment disputes, directly challenging the sovereignty of governments to enact bona fide public health measures to improve the health of their population.

A systematic review of the perceptions of adolescents on graphic health warnings and plain packaging of cigarettes

BackgroundGraphic health warnings on tobacco packaging and the plain packaging of tobacco products are key tobacco control interventions. This systematic review investigates the perceptions of adolescents towards these packaging interventions.MethodsPublished, original-research, English-language articles from 1 January 2000 to 1 September 2017 were identified through a systematic literature search of the PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Articles describing investigations into the perceptions of adolescents aged 11 to 19 years towards graphic health warnings and/or plain-packaged cigarettes were included in this review.ResultsNineteen articles, involving 15,935 adolescent participants, of which 72.85% were non-smokers or ex-smokers and 27.15% occasional or daily smokers, met the eligibility criteria. Graphic health warnings were perceived as more effective than text-only warnings, with warnings depicting lung cancer, and oral diseases being perceived as particularly effective. Health warnings increased viewer fear, anxiety, shock, and guilt and were considered effective in preventing non-smokers from experimenting with tobacco and prompting current smokers to quit. Plain packaging reduced the attractiveness and other positive attributes of cigarette packaging, with darker colours found to be the most effective. When used in combination, plain packaging increased the visibility of graphic health warnings, with participants also perceiving them as having an increased tar content and having more serious health risks, and increased thoughts of quitting amongst smokers.ConclusionsGraphic health warnings and plain packaging appear to increase adolescent awareness of the dangers of tobacco use. Further research into the most effective warnings to use in combination with plain packaging is needed to ensure the greatest reduction in tobacco use and prevent tobacco-attributable morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population.

Perceptions of plain cigarette packaging among smokers and non-smokers in Andalusia (Spain)

ObjectivesEach year tobacco is responsible for 650,000 deaths in Europe and 55,000 in Spain. With tobacco advertising and promotion banned in Spain and most of Europe, the last bastion of marketing is the packaging. Plain tobacco packaging —which involves packs having a standardised appearance— has been proposed to counter this. The objective of this study is to research perceptions arising from the plain packaging of tobacco products. MethodsWe employed a qualitative research methodology -focus groups- with smokers and non-smokers in in two medium-sized Andalusian towns (Spain). ResultsResults show the importance of plain cigarette packaging as a form of promotion, particularly among women and young people, how pack colour influences product perceptions, and how removing full branding increases the salience of the warnings. ConclusionsPlain packaging, combined with pictorial health warnings, may reduce the capacity of packaging to be distinctive and a badge product. Altering pack design in such a way would make it more difficult for tobacco companies to create a favourable image of their brands and may help to reinforce the ability of the population to protect themselves from the dangers of smoking.

How effective is the plain packaging of tobacco policy on rates of intention to quit smoking and changing attitudes to smoking?

The aim of this study is to critically appraise the evidence for the effectiveness of the plain packaging of tobacco products policy. A systematic approach to a literature review was undertaken using five databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Global Health and Legacy Tobacco Documents Library. Quantitative and qualitative studies that evaluate attitudes towards smoking, starting smoking and quitting intentions when plain packaging use is compared with standard cigarette packaging use were included. A total of 1923 studies were identified. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, nine studies were included in the review. The overall quality of the data was variable but a significant number of the studies had major methodological flaws. However, data analysed in the literature review suggest that exposure to plain packaging increases intention to quit amongst exposed individuals, increases negative attitudes to both smoking and starting smoking. Although the evidence for plain packaging of tobacco is not strong, the evidence that is available indicates that it is an effective tobacco cessation policy.

The Global Tobacco Epidemic, the Plain Packaging of Tobacco Products, and the World Trade Organization

In response to complaints by Ukraine, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Indonesia, the government of Australia has defended the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products in the World Trade Organization. This article focuses upon the legal defence of Australia before the WTO Panel. A key part of its defence has been the strong empirical evidence for the efficacy of plain packaging of tobacco products as a legitimate health measure designed to combat the global tobacco epidemic. Australia has provided a convincing case that plain packaging of tobacco products is compatible with the TRIPS Agreement 1994, particularly the clauses relating to the aims and objectives of the agreement; the requirements in respect of trade mark law; and the parallel measures in relation to access to essential medicines. Australia has also defended the consistency of plain packaging of tobacco products with the TBT Agreement 1994. Moreover, Australia has provided clear reasons for why the plain packaging of tobacco products is compatible with GATT. The position of Australia has been reinforced by a number of third parties — such as New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Canada, and others — which have also been pioneers in tobacco control and public health. Australia’s leadership in respect of tobacco control and plain packaging of tobacco products is further supported by larger considerations in respect of international public health law, human rights, and sustainable development.

Attitude towards plain packaging of tobacco products among the adult population in Bangladesh: a mixed method approach

Attitude towards plain packaging of tobacco products among the adult population in Bangladesh: a mixed method approach

Editorial - Plain Packaging Special issue

It gives me great pleasure to write a forward on this topic at a time when there is such a groundswell of international support for plain packaging of tobacco products. World No Tobacco today in 2016 had as its tag line “Get ready for plain packaging” and the world’s health ministers are doing just that.When Australia became the first country in the world to remove all colours and logos on tobacco packs in 2011 – recognising their allure to young new smokers – the tobacco industry tried every move in their book to stop us. Lobbying, donations, advertising campaigns, threats, dodgy research, front groups, overblown claims and legal action dominated our political debate for two years. When all these local manoeuvres failed, the industry switched its effort to ensuring we were the only country to take this step. Writing in November 2016, it is clear that those efforts, both local and international, have manifestly failed. Country after country – France, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Norway, New Zealand – are implementing plain packaging, passing their laws or consulting with the community before introduction and many more countries will move this way in the coming months and years.Plain packaging of tobacco products is now truly an international movement. It is an epidemic of the best sort, as countries catch on to its value, purpose and ease of implementation. We will now see its introduction spread like wildfire around the world.

The necessity of introducing plain packaging of tobacco products in Korea

The necessity of introducing plain packaging of tobacco products in Korea