title: The impact of structural packaging design on young adult smokers' perceptions of tobacco products.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the extent that novel cigarette pack shapes and openings have on smokers' perceptions of those packs and the cigarettes contained within.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a web-based survey, 160 young adult ever-smokers (18-29 years) were shown computer images of plain packaged cigarette packs in five different shapes. This was followed by packs illustrating five different methods of opening. Brand (prestige or budget) and size of the health warnings (30% or 70% warning size) were between-subject conditions. Respondents ranked packs on attractiveness, perceived quality of the cigarettes contained within and extent that the pack distracted from health warnings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ratings of attractiveness and perceived quality were significantly associated in both substudies, but tendency to distract from warnings was more independent. Significant differences were found between the pack shapes on attractiveness, perceived quality and distraction from warnings. Standard, 2×10 and 4×5 packs were ranked less attractive than Bevelled and Rounded packs. 2×10 and 4×5 packs were also perceived as lower quality than Bevelled and Rounded packs. The Standard pack was less distracting to health warnings than all other shapes except the 2×10 pack. Pack openings were perceived as different on quality of cigarettes contained and extent of distraction to warnings. The Standard Flip-top was rated significantly lower in distracting from warnings than all other openings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pack shape and pack opening affect ever-smokers' perceptions of the packs and the cigarettes they contain. This means that they have the potential to create appeal and differentiate products and thus should be regulated.
authors.affiliation: VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control, The Cancer Council Victoria, 1 Rathdowne Street, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia. ron.borland@cancervic.org.au
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borland
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savvas
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sharkie
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D040541:Marketing / Q000379:methods; D011356:Product Labeling / Q000379:methods; D019064:Product Packaging / Q000379:methods*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000009:adverse effects; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult