Reporting of Differences in Taste Between Branded and Unbranded Cigarettes by Smokers Blinded to Cigarette Branding: Within-Person, Randomized Crossover Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Saudi Arabia implemented a plain tobacco packaging regulation, one of the World Health Organization's recommended initiatives to help reduce smoking rates, in August 2019. A few weeks after implementation, a large number of smokers complained via various media channels, especially social media (eg, Twitter), that an extreme change in cigarette taste had occurred, frequency of coughing had increased, and for some, shortness of breath had led to hospitalization.

Objective

The main objective is to determine whether smokers blinded to cigarette branding report differences in taste between branded and unbranded cigarettes. The secondary objective is to observe the frequency of immediate cough or shortness of breath.

Methods

This study employed a within-person, r

SUBMITTER: BinDhim NF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8164127 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature