title: Effects of Framing Proximal Benefits of Quitting and Motivation to Quit as a Query on Communications About Tobacco Constituents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known on how to communicate messages on tobacco constituents to tobacco users. This study manipulated three elements of a message in the context of a theory-based communication campaign about tobacco constituents: (1) latency of response efficacy (how soon expected health benefits would accrue), (2) self-efficacy (confidence about quitting), and (3) interrogative cue ("Ready to be tobacco-free?").
  
  
  METHODS
  Smokers (N = 1669, 55.4% women) were recruited via an online platform, and were randomized to a 3 (Latency of response efficacy) × 2 (Self-efficacy) × 2 (Interrogative cue) factorial design. The dependent variables were believability, credibility, perceived effectiveness of the communication message, and action expectancies (likelihood of seeking additional information and help with quitting).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Latency of response efficacy influenced believability, perceived effectiveness, credibility, and action expectancies. In each case, scores were higher when specific health benefits were said to accrue within 1 month, as compared to general health benefits occurring in a few hours. The interrogative cue had a marginal positive effect on perceived effectiveness. The self-efficacy manipulation had no reliable effects, and there were no significant interactions among conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smokers appear less persuaded by a communication message on constituents where general health benefits accrue immediately (within a few hours) than specific benefits over a longer timeframe (1 month). Additionally, smokers appeared to be more persuaded by messages with an interrogative cue. Such findings may help design more effective communication campaigns on tobacco constituents to smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper describes, for the first time, how components of tobacco constituent messages are perceived. We now know that smokers appear to be less persuaded by communication messages where general health benefits accrue immediately (within a few hours) than specific benefits over a longer timeframe (1 month). Additionally, including an interrogative cue ("Ready to be tobacco free?") may make messages more effective, whereas the self-efficacy manipulation designed to increase confidence about quitting had no effect. While messages were universally impactful across smoker subpopulations, everyday smokers and smokers with less trust in the government may be less receptive to communication campaigns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kowitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Paschal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sheeran
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jarman
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Leah M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ranney
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Allison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Li-Ling
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.|Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
authors.forename: Adam O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration