title: Unplanned cigarette purchases and tobacco point of sale advertising: a potential barrier to smoking cessation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the USA, tobacco marketing expenditure is increasingly concentrated at the point of sale (POS). Previous studies have demonstrated an association between exposure to tobacco POS advertising and increased smoking initiation, but limited evidence is available on adult smokers' decisions and behaviours.
  
  
  METHODS
  An immediate post-cigarette purchase survey was administered to 301 cigarette purchasers outside of two grocery stores in Vermont to assess the prevalence of unplanned purchases and opinions about POS tobacco advertising and displays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 11.3% of purchases were reported as unplanned. Certain groups were more likely to make unplanned purchases including: 18-24-year-olds (OR: 2.1, 95% CI 1.0 to 4.4), less than daily smokers (OR: 5.6, 95% CI 1.9 to 16.9), smokers who made 3+ quit attempts in the previous year (OR: 2.4, 95% CI 0.9 to 6.0), those who plan to quit in the next month (OR: 3.7, 95% CI 1.6 to 9.0), and those who agreed that tobacco POS advertising makes quitting smoking harder (OR: 2.3, 95% CI 1.1 to 4.8). Overall, 31.2% of participants agreed that tobacco POS advertising makes quitting smoking harder. Individuals who intended to quit within the next month, made 3+ quit attempts in the last year, or made an unplanned cigarette purchase were the most likely to agree.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young adults and individuals making multiple quit attempts or planning to quit in the next month are more likely to make unplanned cigarette purchases. Reducing unplanned purchases prompted by tobacco POS advertising could improve the likelihood of successful cessation among smokers.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Eben J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Clattenburg
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Elf
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Apelberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D000367:Age Factors; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012907:Smoking; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D019460:Tobacco Industry; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Advertising and Promotion; Cessation; Prevention; Public opinion