Perceptions of effectiveness and believability of pictorial and text-only health warning labels for cannabis products among Canadian youth.
Cannabis consumer behaviour
Cannabis health communication
Cannabis labeling
Cannabis product packaging
Cannabis use
Journal
The International journal on drug policy
ISSN: 1873-4758
Titre abrégé: Int J Drug Policy
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 9014759
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
11 2019
11 2019
Historique:
received:
19
02
2019
revised:
18
06
2019
accepted:
02
07
2019
pubmed:
25
7
2019
medline:
9
7
2020
entrez:
24
7
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Health warnings have been shown to increase knowledge and awareness of health risks, influence social norms, and reduce consumption of tobacco products. With the legalization of non-medical cannabis in Canada and other subnational jurisdictions, there is a need for empirical studies to examine the impact of cannabis health warnings on consumer perceptions and behaviour relevant to cannabis. In October 2017, a between-group experiment was conducted as part of an online survey of Canadians aged 16 to 30 years (N = 870) recruited from a national consumer panel. Participants rated the perceived effectiveness and believability of either text-only or pictorial cannabis health warnings and then completed a message recall task. Participants also reported their level of support for cannabis warnings, and support for including cessation information and a quitline on the warnings. Pictorial health warnings for cannabis products were perceived as more effective and believable than text-only warnings (p < 0.001), and the superiority of pictorial warnings was found across different warnings: dose (p = 0.039), co-morbid drug use (p = 0.006), and pregnancy (p < 0.001). Pictorial warnings were also rated as more believable (p = 0.048). Overall, 87.7% respondents supported having health warnings on cannabis products, and 84.0% supported the inclusion of a quitline number on cannabis health warnings. The current study provides the first empirical test of cannabis health warnings, consistent with the considerable body of evidence on the effectiveness of pictorial warnings on tobacco products. There was strong support for the inclusion of picture warnings and the inclusion of resources and quitlines on cannabis packaging.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Health warnings have been shown to increase knowledge and awareness of health risks, influence social norms, and reduce consumption of tobacco products. With the legalization of non-medical cannabis in Canada and other subnational jurisdictions, there is a need for empirical studies to examine the impact of cannabis health warnings on consumer perceptions and behaviour relevant to cannabis.
METHODS
In October 2017, a between-group experiment was conducted as part of an online survey of Canadians aged 16 to 30 years (N = 870) recruited from a national consumer panel. Participants rated the perceived effectiveness and believability of either text-only or pictorial cannabis health warnings and then completed a message recall task. Participants also reported their level of support for cannabis warnings, and support for including cessation information and a quitline on the warnings.
RESULTS
Pictorial health warnings for cannabis products were perceived as more effective and believable than text-only warnings (p < 0.001), and the superiority of pictorial warnings was found across different warnings: dose (p = 0.039), co-morbid drug use (p = 0.006), and pregnancy (p < 0.001). Pictorial warnings were also rated as more believable (p = 0.048). Overall, 87.7% respondents supported having health warnings on cannabis products, and 84.0% supported the inclusion of a quitline number on cannabis health warnings.
CONCLUSION
The current study provides the first empirical test of cannabis health warnings, consistent with the considerable body of evidence on the effectiveness of pictorial warnings on tobacco products. There was strong support for the inclusion of picture warnings and the inclusion of resources and quitlines on cannabis packaging.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31336290
pii: S0955-3959(19)30179-3
doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.07.001
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
24-31Subventions
Organisme : CIHR
ID : PJT-153342
Pays : Canada
Organisme : CIHR
ID : FDN-148477
Pays : Canada
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.