EFFECTIVENESS OF WARNING LABELS ON CIGARETTE PACKETS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN ENHANCING SMOKERS MOTIVATION TO QUIT.

Tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death and disease globally, with smoking responsible for over 8 million deaths annually. The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) guidelines, emphasizing health warnings on tobacco packaging to reduce consumption. These warnings include graphic images, textual messages, and standardized plain packaging to deter smoking. Implementation varies across 46 underdeveloped, 130 developing, and 66 developed countries, with factors such as policy strength, enforcement, and socio-economic conditions influencing their effectiveness. Developed nations like Canada and Australia have implemented comprehensive warning labels, leading to reduced smoking rates, while developing and underdeveloped countries face challenges such as weak enforcement and limited resources.

This cross-sectional study aims to compare the effectiveness of cigarette warning labels from 18 countries (6 each from developed, developing, and underdeveloped categories) in influencing smokers’ awareness, behavior, and motivation to quit. Conducted among tobacco-smoking patients at the OPD of Government Dental College and Hospital, Raipur, participants will be randomly selected and exposed to warning labels from different countries. Their responses will be assessed using the WHO tobacco warning labels and the GATS 2 questionnaire. The study will analyze the role of socio-economic factors in shaping the impact of these warnings and provide recommendations for improving tobacco control strategies. Ethical approval will be obtained, and informed consent will be taken from participants. Findings will contribute to developing effective, culturally relevant tobacco control policies aimed at reducing smoking prevalence globally.