The pack of Camel contains images that influence adolescents to become established smokers: A three year follow-up

Abstract

Introduction: the desire to acquire promotional articles from tobacco companies (receptivity) is a risk factor associated with becoming an established smoker. There is a possibility that the perception of sexual content in tobacco advertising (PCS) may be part of that desire and act as an additional risk factor. Objective: the objective of this study was to determine the influence of receptivity and PCS in the smoking process. Method: in 1998, 1186 high school students were surveyed in order to determine their receptivity and PCS. After three years, 303 of them were followed through a telephone interview in order to correlate their current smoking status with the previously recorded antecedent of receptivity and PCS. Results: 62% of the subjects were receptive and 78% perceived some kind of sexual content in the advertising. Both receptivity and PCS were significantly associated with the probability of becoming an Established Smoker (ES) (OR 2.36 [95%CI 2.36-1.18] and OR 2.56 [1.02-6.42] respectively). Discussion and conclusions: receptivity and PCS are independent risk factors than can cause teenagers to become established smokers.