Impact of tobacco control policies and mass media campaigns on monthly adult smoking prevalence.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess the impact of several tobacco control policies and televised antismoking advertising on adult smoking prevalence.


METHODS
We used a population survey in which smoking prevalence was measured each month from 1995 through 2006. Time-series analysis assessed the effect on smoking prevalence of televised antismoking advertising (with gross audience rating points [GRPs] per month), cigarette costliness, monthly sales of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and bupropion, and smoke-free restaurant laws.


RESULTS
Increases in cigarette costliness and exposure to tobacco control media campaigns significantly reduced smoking prevalence. We found a 0.3-percentage-point reduction in smoking prevalence by either exposing the population to televised antismoking ads an average of almost 4 times per month (390 GRPs) or by increasing the costliness of a pack of cigarettes by 0.03% of gross average weekly earnings. Monthly sales of NRT and bupropion, exposure to NRT advertising, and smoke-free restaurant laws had no detectable impact on smoking prevalence.


CONCLUSIONS
Increases in the real price of cigarettes and tobacco control mass media campaigns broadcast at sufficient exposure levels and at regular intervals are critical for reducing population smoking prevalence.
Centre for Behavioral Research in Cancer, The Cancer Council Victoria, 1 Rathdowne Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. melanie.wakefield@cancervic.org.au
Melanie A
MA
Wakefield
Sarah
S
Durkin
Matthew J
MJ
Spittal
Mohammad
M
Siahpush
Michelle
M
Scollo
Julie A
JA
Simpson
Simon
S
Chapman
Victoria
V
White
David
D
Hill
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016642:Bupropion / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012147:Restaurants; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D040241:Social Marketing; D013690:Television; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D016642:Bupropion