title: Could cigarette packaging be used as a tool to make prevention of smoke-induced respiratory diseases?
abstract: The most important consequences of smoking are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer (LC). Although the use of shocking images and warning messages on cigarette packaging is a valid tool of smoke dishabituation, unfortunately, millions of people go on smoking. Our hypotheses is that cigarette packet covers could also be used to give further messages, especially meant to spur also a screening of smoke-induced respiratory diseases. Messages on cigarette packaging suggesting smokers to perform a spirometry and a chest X-ray may persuade them not only to quit their habit but also to have a screening for COPD and LC prevention. If our hypotheses is taken into account it will have a strong worldwide impact.
authors.affiliation: Pneumology Department, "Misericordia" Hospital, Grosseto, Italy. Electronic address: bsposat@tin.it.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sposato
authors.affiliation: Pneumology Department, "Misericordia" Hospital, Grosseto, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero Angelo
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.affiliation: Pneumology Department, "Misericordia" Hospital, Grosseto, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Carelli
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019064:Product Packaging; D011634:Public Health; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013147:Spirometry; D014026:Nicotiana; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*