Examining reactions to smoking and COVID-19 risk messages: An experimental study with people who smoke.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Smoking cigarettes worsens COVID-19 outcomes, and news media and health agencies have been communicating about that. However, few studies have examined how these messages affect attitudes, beliefs, and behavioral intentions of people who smoke. These are critical variables that can inform public health campaigns to motivate quitting smoking during the COVID-19 crisis.

Methods

In August 2020, we conducted an online experiment in the U.S. with 1,004 adults who smoke. Participants were randomized to one of four message conditions: COVID-19 risk, smoking risk, combined risk of smoking for COVID-19 severity, or a non-risk control. Outcomes were message reactions (emotions and reactance), attitudes and beliefs (severity, susceptibility, self-efficacy, response efficacy

SUBMITTER: Massey ZB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8801323 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature