BACKGROUND: although "light" and "low tar" cigarettes are just as harmful as regular cigarettes, do smokers tend to believe otherwise?
METHODS: a face-to-face survey of adult smokers and non-smokers in seven cities was performed in China.
RESULTS: Smokers believed that smoother cigarettes were less harmful.
CONCLUSIONS: tobacco control policies must recognize that marketing has lead to the belief that a smoker's smoother sensations when smoking is associated with an erroneous lowered perceptions of harm.
Tob Control. 2014 Nov 4. pii: tobaccocontrol-2014-051977.
METHODS: a face-to-face survey of adult smokers and non-smokers in seven cities was performed in China.
RESULTS: Smokers believed that smoother cigarettes were less harmful.
CONCLUSIONS: tobacco control policies must recognize that marketing has lead to the belief that a smoker's smoother sensations when smoking is associated with an erroneous lowered perceptions of harm.
Tob Control. 2014 Nov 4. pii: tobaccocontrol-2014-051977.
