title: Receipt and redemption of cigarette coupons, perceptions of cigarette companies and smoking cessation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although it is known that cigarette companies use cigarette coupons to market their products, little is known about the characteristics of those who receive these coupons. The influence of receipt and redemption of these coupons is also unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants of the Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey Cohort Study who were smokers in 2008, completed surveys in 2008 and 2009, and had smoked for at least 6 months between those surveys, were included. In 2009, participants reported whether they had received cigarette coupons in the past 12 months, and whether they had used the coupons. They also reported their perceptions of cigarette companies and their smoking status. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to assess associations between receiving and redeeming coupons, perceptions of cigarette companies, and smoking status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 49.4% of the sample reported receiving cigarette coupons, and 39.9% redeemed them (80.1% of those who received these coupons). Female, younger and heavier smokers were more likely to report receiving these coupons (p<0.05). Smokers who received these coupons were more likely to agree that cigarette companies care about their health and do the best they can to make cigarettes safe, and less likely to agree that cigarette companies lie (p<0.05). Smokers who used these coupons were less likely to quit smoking (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest a negative association between cigarette coupons and smoking cessation. Longitudinal studies are needed to establish whether cigarette coupons influence smoking behaviour to inform the necessity for policies to prohibit the use of these coupons to assist smokers to quit smoking.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Kelvin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Deborah J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hennrikus
authors.forename: Jean L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moilanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003625:Data Collection; D008192:Deception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D040541:Marketing; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota; D010465:Perception; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics*; D019460:Tobacco Industry; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000191:economics; D055815:Young Adult