The Impact of Cigarillo Warnings on Purchasing

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Cigar Smoking

Interventions: Behavioral: Cigarillo warnings-Surgeon General Text-Only
Behavioral: Cigarillo warnings-FDA proposed text-only
Behavioral: Cigarillo warnings-Pictorial

Registration Number: NCT05434013

Lead Sponsor: Boston University

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether different cigarillo warning formats (pictorial, FDA-proposed text-only, current Surgeon General text-only) reduces demand for cigarillos. A previous study has identified that pictorial cigarillo warnings are perceived as more effective, but more information is needed on their impact. This study will address this issue by randomizing participants to see different cigarillo warning formats on cigarillo products within an online experimental tobacco marketplace. Participants will be cigarillo users who are ages 21-35.

Detailed Description: Warning labels on tobacco products convey the health risks and discourage use. Warnings are even more effective when they contain images that depict the health consequences. However, little is known about the impact of cigarillo warnings, including pictorial warnings, on consumer behavior. The Experimental Tobacco Marketplace (ETM) task examines the effects of regulations on tobacco purchasing in the context of a complex tobacco marketplace. This project aims to address the gap in the knowledge about cigarillo risk communication by providing information on best practices for cigarillo warnings. Identifying effective cigarillo warnings is important to inform policy and guide research on effectively communicating risk to ultimately decrease use and tobacco-related morbidity and mortality.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 1578

Inclusion Criteria

Current cigarillo users: used cigarillos at least one time per week in the past month
Members of the Kantar Media panel

Exclusion Criteria

Non-English speakers
Non-current cigarillo users
Not members of Kantar Media

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Cigarillo warnings-Surgeon General Text-Only	Cigarillo warnings-Surgeon General Text-Only	Participants will complete 6 mock shopping trips in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace, and be asked to spend their weekly tobacco budget. Cigarillos in the Marketplace will have one of three cigarillo warnings in the Surgeon General Text-Only format.
Cigarillo warnings-FDA proposed text-only	Cigarillo warnings-FDA proposed text-only	Participants will complete 6 mock shopping trips in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace, and be asked to spend their weekly tobacco budget. Cigarillos in the Marketplace will have one of three cigarillo warnings in the FDA Proposed Text-Only format.
Cigarillo warnings-Pictorial	Cigarillo warnings-Pictorial	Participants will complete 6 mock shopping trips in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace, and be asked to spend their weekly tobacco budget. Cigarillos in the Marketplace will have one of three cigarillo warnings in the Pictorial format.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Average Total Number of Cigarillos Purchased	Within the 20-minute survey	Participants in each arm will participate in six mock shopping trips with a specified budget. They will purchase (mock) single cigarillos. The primary outcome is the average number of cigarillos purchased during each of the six mock shopping trips.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Average Total Amount of mg Combusted Tobacco Purchased	Within the 20-minute survey	Participants will participate in six mock shopping trips with a specified budget. They will have the option to purchase (mock) tobacco products in addition to cigarillos: cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, e-cigarettes/vaping devices, oral nicotine. This outcome will be the sum mg of the number of combusted non-cigarillo tobacco products purchased during each of the six mock shopping trips
Average Total Amount of mg Non-combusted Tobacco Purchased	Within the 20-minute survey	Participants will participate in six mock shopping trips with a specified budget. They will have the option to purchase (mock) tobacco products in addition to cigarillos: cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, e-cigarettes/vaping devices, oral nicotine. This outcome will be the sum mg of the number of non-combusted tobacco products purchased during each of the six mock shopping trips.
Intensity Index for Cigarillos	Within the 20 minute survey.	Number of cigarillos purchased at lowest price, averaged across the six shopping trips
Rate of Change for Cigarillo Demand	Within the 20-minute survey	The rate of change for cigarillo demand is called Alpha, which is the rate constant of fitted Exponentiated Demand Equation. It is calculated with the Exponentiated Demand Equation, Q=Q0\*10\^k(e-αQ0C -1), where Q is the mg of nicotine purchased at a given price, Q0 is peak demand consumption or intensity (typically occurring at the lowest price), k is a constant across all compared conditions, and alpha (α) is the rate of change in demand or elasticity.
Cost Related Indices for Cigarillos	Within the 20-minute survey	Omax is the maximum amount spent on cigarillos across all shopping trips. Breakpoint is the price where no cigarillos were purchased. Pmax is the price where Omax occurs.