Tobacco-Related Disparities in Specific Populations

Research

Addressing tobacco use in homeless populations: A survey of health care professionals
A recent report discusses healthcare providers’ practices and attitudes toward addressing tobacco use among homeless populations. The researchers surveyed members of the Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians Network regarding their tobacco screening practices, attitudes towards addressing tobacco use, and history of providing tobacco products to homeless individuals in order to build rapport or trust. The majority (86.5%) of the clinicians reported routine screening for tobacco use. The response rates related to attitudes towards tobacco use in homeless settings varied by clinical discipline even though 74.4% agreed that tobacco use was one of the most important health issues among homeless people. Health providers’ attitudes and practices towards tobacco use among homeless people are important in addressing the high tobacco use in this population. Click here to read the full report published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.

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Reports

Cigarette warning label policy alternatives and smoking-related health disparities
The effectiveness of pictorial health warning labels on cigarette packages was assessed in a recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The researchers evaluated the role of health literacy and race in the short-term reactions to pictorial health warning labels. Nearly 1,000 adult smokers were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups: text-only labels (n=207) and pictorial labels (n=774) between July 2011 to January 2012. Pictorial labels with graphic imagery received higher ratings of credibility, personal relevance, and effectiveness compared to images of human suffering and symbols. Few differences were found across racial groups and levels of health literacy in regard to labels with graphic imagery compared to other types of imagery tested. Pictorial health warning labels were reported to have the greatest impact on adult smokers. Previous research suggests that graphic health warning labels are successful in deterring people from starting smoking, and can influence quit attempts. Additionally, countries such as Australia and New Zealand have adopted mandatory graphic health warning label laws on all cigarette packaging. Click here to read the study abstract.

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