Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2018 Sep 25;20(11):1310-1316. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntx215.
Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was granted regulatory authority over tobacco products in 2009, few studies have examined perceived credibility of the FDA in this role. The current study assessed knowledge and credibility of the FDA as a regulator of tobacco products.
In a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults (N = 4758), we assessed knowledge that the FDA regulates the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of cigarettes, and credibility of the FDA as a tobacco regulator. We examined demographic differences in knowledge and credibility, and associations of knowledge and trust in government with credibility perceptions.
Less than half of respondents reported knowing the FDA regulates how cigarettes are sold (46.8%) and advertised (49.7%), and only 36.0% knew the FDA regulates how cigarettes are made, with few demographic differences. Respondents reported that the FDA was moderately credible in regulating tobacco. Knowledge of the FDA as a tobacco regulator and trust in government were the strongest predictors of credibility. Being of younger age, being White (compared to African American), and being male were associated with higher credibility ratings of the FDA.
Much of the public still does not know that the FDA regulates tobacco products, and credibility perceptions are moderate. Greater knowledge of the FDA's regulatory role was associated with higher credibility; efforts that increase the public's understanding of the FDA's role as a tobacco regulator may positively impact views of the agency's credibility. This may in turn improve public reception to the FDA's messages and regulations.
This study is the first to show nationally representative estimates of both knowledge and credibility of the FDA as a tobacco regulator. Our research shows further that knowledge of the FDA's tobacco regulatory roles is likely to be an important factor related to perceived credibility of the FDA. Increasing the public's knowledge of the FDA's roles may enhance the agency's credibility, which can improve public reception to messages and regulations.
自 2009 年美国食品和药物管理局（FDA）获得对烟草产品的监管权以来，很少有研究调查公众对 FDA 在这一角色中的可信度的看法。本研究评估了公众对 FDA 作为烟草监管机构的认知和可信度。
在一项针对美国成年人（N=4758）的全国代表性调查中，我们评估了公众对 FDA 监管香烟制造、分销和营销的认知，以及对 FDA 作为烟草监管机构的可信度。我们考察了知识和可信度在人口统计学上的差异，以及对政府的信任与可信度感知之间的关系。
不到一半的受访者表示知道 FDA 监管香烟的销售（46.8%）和广告（49.7%）方式，只有 36.0%知道 FDA 监管香烟的制造方式，且人口统计学差异较小。受访者表示，FDA 在监管烟草方面的可信度适中。对 FDA 作为烟草监管机构的了解程度和对政府的信任是可信度的最强预测因素。年龄较轻、白人（与非裔美国人相比）和男性受访者对 FDA 的可信度评价较高。
许多公众仍然不知道 FDA 监管烟草产品，且对 FDA 的可信度评价中等。对 FDA 监管角色的了解程度与可信度呈正相关；增加公众对 FDA 作为烟草监管机构角色的理解，可能会对该机构的可信度产生积极影响，从而提高公众对 FDA 信息和法规的接受程度。
这项研究首次展示了 FDA 作为烟草监管机构的认知和可信度的全国代表性估计。我们的研究进一步表明，对 FDA 烟草监管角色的了解可能是与 FDA 可信度感知相关的一个重要因素。提高公众对 FDA 角色的认识可能会增强该机构的可信度，从而提高公众对信息和法规的接受程度。
