Systematic Review of Measures Used in Graphic Cigarette Pack Warning Experiments

• In Event: Smoking, Stigma, Social Support: High Density Panel in Health Communication

Abstract

Graphic cigarette pack warnings are a common tobacco control strategy worldwide, and experiments are commonly used to evaluate such warnings. We sought to better understand measures used in graphic cigarette pack warning experiments, describe their psychometric properties, and provide recommendations for future studies. We identified 128 measures assessing 40 constructs from 37 studies. Most measures came from three categories of the Message Impact Framework: warning reactions, perceived message effectiveness, and attitudes and beliefs. There was great variability in outcomes that studies assessed, measures used, and names for outcomes. Lack of consensus on outcome measures has created a fragmented literature and reduced our ability to synthesize findings across studies. Recommendations for future studies include a greater emphasis on theoretically informed measures, use of reliable and validated (preferably multi-item) measures, and better reporting of measure source. Implications of these results for measurement in tobacco warnings and health communication research will be discussed.

Authors

• Diane B. Francis, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Marissa G Hall, U of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Seth M. Noar, U of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Kurt Ribisl, U of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Noel Brewer, U of North Carolina - Chapel Hill