scholarly journals Perceptions, Predictors of and Motivation for Quitting among Smokers from Six European Countries from 2016 to 2018: Findings from EUREST-PLUS ITC Europe Surveys

Author(s):  
Charis Girvalaki ◽  
Filippos Filippidis ◽  
Christina Kyriakos ◽  
Pete Driezen ◽  
Aleksandra Herbeć ◽  
...  

The European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) was introduced in 2016 in an effort to decrease prevalence of smoking and increase cessation in the European Union (EU). This study aimed to explore quitting behaviours, motivation, reasons and perceptions about quitting, as well as predictors (reported before the TPD implementation) associated with post-TPD quit status. A cohort study was conducted involving adult smokers from six EU countries (n = 3195). Data collection occurred pre-(Wave 1; 2016) and post-(Wave 2; 2018) TPD implementation. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses of weighted data were conducted. Within this cohort sample, 415 (13.0%) respondents reported quitting at Wave 2. Predictors of quitting were moderate or high education, fewer cigarettes smoked per day at baseline, a past quit attempt, lower level of perceived addiction, plans for quitting and the presence of a smoking-related comorbidity. Health concerns, price of cigarettes and being a good example for children were among the most important reasons that predicted being a quitter at Wave 2. Our findings show that the factors influencing decisions about quitting may be shared among European countries. European policy and the revised version of TPD could emphasise these factors through health warnings and/or campaigns and other policies.

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii10-iii17
Author(s):  
Constantine I Vardavas ◽  
Christina N Kyriakos ◽  
Pete Driezen ◽  
Charis Girvalaki ◽  
Katerina Nikitara ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The emergence of new types of tobacco and tobacco-related products on the European Union (EU) market has precipitated the possibility for both poly-tobacco use and transitions between products. In the EU, the regulatory environment has shifted with the implementation of the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) in May 2016, which may influence consumer transitions between products. Methods The aim of this paper was to examine trends and transitions in tobacco products from 2016 to 2018 -before and after implementation of the TPD in the EU. Data come from Wave 1 (pre-TPD) and Wave 2 (post-TPD) of the EUREST-PLUS ITC Six European Country Survey, a cohort study of adults who at the time of recruitment were smokers from six EU countries- Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Spain. D (N = 3195). Bivariate and logistic regression analyses of weighted data was conducted using SAS-callable SUDAAN Results Overall, among those who smoked factory-made cigarettes (FM) only at Wave 1, 4.3% switched to roll-your-own tobacco (RYO) only. Among RYO only users at Wave 1, 17.0% switched to FM only, however compared to all other countries, respondents from Hungary had the highest percentage of FM only users at Wave 1 switch to RYO only at Wave 2 (18.0%). Conclusions The most prominent transition overall was from smoking RYO exclusively at Wave 1 to smoking FM tobacco exclusively at Wave 2, however this varied across countries. As the tobacco control regulatory environment of the EU develops, it is important to continue to monitor transitions between types of products, as well as trends in cessation.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Rimmer

Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) poses significant challenges in respect of tobacco control, public health, human rights, and sustainable development. Two landmark ISDS rulings provide procedural and substantive guidance on the interaction between ISDS and tobacco control. The ISDS action by Philip Morris against Uruguay in respect to graphic health warnings raised important procedural and substantive issues. The ISDS matter between Philip Morris and Australia over the plain packaging of tobacco products highlighted matters in respect of abuse of process. In the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), there was a special exclusion for tobacco control measures in respect of ISDS. There was also a larger discussion about the role of general public health exceptions. In the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), there was a debate about the application of ISDS to intellectual property rights. In the European Union, there has been discussion of the creation of an international investment court. In the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), there has even been calls to abolish ISDS clauses altogether from both Republicans and Democrats. This article concludes there is a need to protect tobacco control measures implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 2003 from further investor and trade challenges.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii84-iii90
Author(s):  
Sarah Kahnert ◽  
Pete Driezen ◽  
James Balmford ◽  
Christina N Kyriakos ◽  
Sarah Aleyan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Tobacco product packaging is a key part of marketing efforts to make tobacco use appealing. In contrast, large, prominent health warnings are intended to inform individuals about the risks of smoking. In the European Union, since May 2016, the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU (TPD2) requires tobacco product packages to carry combined health warnings consisting of a picture, a text warning and information on stop smoking services, covering 65% of the front and back of the packages. Methods Key measures of warning label effectiveness (salience, cognitive reactions and behavioural reaction) before and after implementation of the TPD2, determinants of warning labels’ effectiveness and country differences were examined in a longitudinal sample of 6011 adult smokers from Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Spain (EUREST-PLUS Project) using longitudinal Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) models. Results In the pooled sample, the warning labels’ effectiveness increased significantly over time in terms of salience (adjusted OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.03–1.35), while cognitive and behavioural reactions did not show clear increases. Generally, among women, more highly educated smokers and less addicted smokers, the effectiveness of warning labels tended to be higher. Conclusion We found an increase in salience, but no clear increases for cognitive and behavioural reactions to the new warning labels as required by the TPD2. While it is likely that our study underestimated the impact of the new pictorial warning labels, it provides evidence that health messages on tobacco packaging are more salient when supported by large pictures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Enkeleint A. Mechili ◽  
Krzysztof Przewoźniak ◽  
Pete Driezen ◽  
Christina N Kyriakos ◽  
Charis Girvalaki ◽  
...  

Background: Efforts to regulate tobacco products and reduce consumption in the European Union (EU) include the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which went into force in May 2016. Despite the initial discussion to include a ban on sale of slim cigarettes, it was excluded in the final TPD. The main goal of this study was to examine support for a ban on slim cigarettes among smokers in six European Countries. Methods: Data from the 2018 (Wave 2) International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project 6 European Country (ITC 6E) EUREST-PLUS project survey, a cross sectional study of adult smokers (n=5592) from Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Spain, was analysed. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate support for a ban on slim cigarettes by sociodemographic characteristics and smoking behaviors. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with support for a ban on slim cigarettes and perceptions of harm. Results: Support for a ban on slims varied across countries, with highest support in Romania (33.8%), and lowest in Greece (18.0%). Female smokers (OR=0.77; 95%CI=0.66-0.90, daily smokers (OR=0.59; 95%CI=0.42-0.83), menthol smokers (OR=0.56; 95%CI=0.36-0.87), and smokers who did not have plans to quit within next six months (OR=0.45; 95%CI=0.36-0.57) had significantly lower odds of supporting a ban on slim cigarettes. Overall, 20% of smokers perceived slim cigarettes as less harmful than regular cigarettes. Conclusions: Support for a ban of slim cigarettes was relatively low among smokers, while misperceptions that slim cigarettes are less harmful is high, particularly among countries where slim cigarette use is more prevalent. Findings support a ban on slim cigarettes to reduce misperceptions around slim cigarettes being less harmful.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (e1) ◽  
pp. e71-e76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Woelbert ◽  
Béatrice d’Hombres

ObjectiveThis paper examines whether there are possible wear-out effects associated with repeated exposure to pictorial health warnings on tobacco products. Wear-out effects can be general, that is, people get used to the presence of pictorial warnings in general, or specific to the content of the warnings (ie, the images used). Distinguishing between these two types of wear-out is important for understanding how to maintain the effectiveness of health warnings over time.MethodsThis study used data from two surveys carried out in 10 European countries. Participants (n=12 600) were exposed in a random order to a series of health warnings and assessed the salience of the warnings as well as their effects on smoking intentions. Using these data and country variations in health warning legislation, we tested whether warning pictures are subject to general and/or specific wear-out effects.ResultsResponses were stronger to combined text+picture warnings than to text-only warnings. This effect was lower for smokers living in countries where combined warnings were already in place at the time of the data collection, compared with smokers residing in countries where text-only warnings were in use. This result, observed for combined warnings with new pictures, is in line with the presence of general wear-out effects. Combined warnings with an unknown pictorial content were more effective than those including pictorial warnings already in use, suggesting that specific wear-out effects are also at play.ConclusionsThese findings strengthen the evidence that pictorial health warnings are an effective tool for tobacco control policies and suggest that, even in the presence of a general wear-out effect among smokers, periodically introducing new pictures helps to maintain warning effectiveness over time.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii98-iii107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina N Kyriakos ◽  
Pete Driezen ◽  
Charis Girvalaki ◽  
Sara C Hitchman ◽  
Filippos T Filippidis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), which went into effect in May 2016, regulates packaging design and labelling of cigarettes and roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco. The aim of the current study was to examine whether smokers and recent quitters in six European Union (EU) countries (Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Spain) reported noticing TPD-related changes to packaging, and correlates of noticing these changes. Methods Cross-sectional data from the Wave 2 of the ITC 6 European Country Survey in 2018 after implementation of the TPD. Bivariate analyses included adult smokers (n = 5597) and recent quitters (n = 412). Adjusted logistic regression analyses were restricted to the subset of current smokers (n = 5597) and conducted using SAS-callable SUDAAN. Results Over half of smokers (58.2%) and 30% of quitters noticed at least one of five types of TPD-related pack changes. Over one-quarter of all respondents noticed changes to health warnings (30.0%), standardized openings (27.7%), minimum pack unit size (27.9%), and the removal of tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide information (26.7%) on packaging. Cross-country differences were observed across all measures, with noticing all pack changes markedly lower in Spain than the other countries. Correlates of noticing specific pack changes included sociodemographic characteristics, smoking behaviours and related to packaging. Conclusions This is one of the first cross-country studies to examine the extent to which TPD changes to cigarette and RYO tobacco packaging are being noticed by smokers and recent quitters. Findings indicate that the majority of smokers noticed at least one type of pack change, but this varied across countries and sub-populations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Rimmer

Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) poses significant challenges in respect of tobacco control, public health, human rights, and sustainable development. Two landmark ISDS rulings provide procedural and substantive guidance on the interaction between ISDS and tobacco control. The ISDS action by Philip Morris against Uruguay in respect to graphic health warnings raised important procedural and substantive issues. The ISDS matter between Philip Morris and Australia over the plain packaging of tobacco products highlighted matters in respect of abuse of process. In the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), there was a special exclusion for tobacco control measures in respect of ISDS. There was also a larger discussion about the role of general public health exceptions. In the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), there was a debate about the application of ISDS to intellectual property rights. In the European Union, there has been discussion of the creation of an international investment court. In the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), there has even been calls to abolish ISDS clauses altogether from both Republicans and Democrats. This article concludes there is a need to protect tobacco control measures implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control 2013 from further investor and trade challenges.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 608-647
Author(s):  
Susana Callao ◽  
José I. Jarne ◽  
David Wroblewski

The paper studies earnings management in developing European countries. We investigated if membership in the European Union and the recent global financial crisis affected the decisions of managers in Eastern European countries to engage in earnings management. By analyzing a sample of 4,627 firms from four developing Eastern European countries (the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia) over the period of 2002-2009, our findings suggest there was a decrease in earnings management over the period leading up to the accession of these countries to the European Union. Additionally, we found that there was an increase in earnings management after the burst of the financial crisis. The results contribute to the debate in the accounting literature regarding the variations in earnings management related to the changes in environmental factors influencing companies. These results have several implications for standard setters and regulators; in particular, companies’ incentives are strongly influenced by the general conditions and circumstance of their home countries. Additionally, the study explores the still unexplored developing markets of Eastern European countries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii78-iii83
Author(s):  
Lucia Maria Lotrean ◽  
Antigona Trofor ◽  
Cornel Radu-Loghin ◽  
Marius Eremia ◽  
Florin Mihaltan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The study assessed awareness and use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) and factors that influenced these issues among cigarette smokers from six European countries in 2016 (Wave 1) and 2018 (Wave 2). Methods A survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of cigarette smokers aged 18 years or older from Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Spain in 2016 (N = 6011) and 2018 (N = 6027; 53% of smokers from the previous wave were retained, regardless of smoking status and dropouts were replaced by a replenishment sample of smokers). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Estimates were produced using weighted data. The study presents the cross-sectional results. Results Awareness of HTPs increased from 8% to 17% between the two waves. At Wave 1, 1.1% of the smokers declared having used HTPs at least once during their lifetime; and at Wave 2, this increased to 1.9% (around 1% or less in four countries, except for Greece and Romania where it was around 4%). Factors associated with HTPs use among those who had ever heard about these products at Wave 1 were country of residence, being a daily cigarette smoker and ever use of electronic cigarettes. At Wave 2, ever use of HTPs was significantly higher among those who had tried to quit smoking combustible cigarettes in the last 12 months, had tried electronic cigarettes during lifetime and perceived HTPs as less dangerous than combustible cigarettes; the country of residence was also associated with HTPs use. Conclusion This study offers insights into the behaviours and perceptions of European adult smokers regarding HTPs, an important emerging issue in the field of tobacco control.


Author(s):  
Yulia S. Chechikova

Digitization of a national cultural and scientific heritage is one of the long-term strategic problems of the European countries’ governments. Member countries of the European Union make major efforts in providing access to their cultural heritage. In the article the process of an access provision is described for Finland.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document