Center for the Study of Tobacco Products, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2024 May 31;26(Supplement_2):S121-S132. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntad062.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed banning cigarettes and cigars with characterizing flavors-products used disproportionately by African American/black (AA/B) individuals. Little is known about how AA/B individuals who smoke menthol cigarettes will respond to flavor bans or how to amplify the intended benefits. This study explored predictors of quit intentions following a hypothetical flavor ban and further probed anticipated ban-related responses.
We recruited 213 AA/B individuals who use menthol cigarettes from Richmond, VA (September 2021-August 2022) for a mixed-methods study. Participants rated seven motivations for quitting and six barriers to quitting (Not a motivation or challenge[1]-Major motivation or challenge[4]), then reported how likely they were to quit smoking if characterizing flavors were banned in cigarettes and cigars. A subsample of 31 participants completed semi-structured interviews to further explore reactions to flavor restriction policies.
Multivariable linear regressions suggested that participants who were more motivated to quit smoking because of "information about health hazards" and the "cost of cigarettes" reported higher quit intentions following a hypothetical menthol ban (p < .05). Additionally, those with cessation-related weight concerns reported lower post-ban quit intentions (p < .05). Interview themes highlighted smoking for stress reduction, harm/addiction perceptions of flavored tobacco products, trusted sources of tobacco-related information (including testimonials from people who formerly smoked), potential ban responses, and varying experiences with cessation strategies.
Culturally specific cessation strategies that emphasize the health-related benefits of quitting, particularly those featuring the experiences of people who formerly smoked, may help AA/B individuals who smoke menthol cigarettes quit following a menthol ban.
For the FDA's proposed bans on characterizing flavors in cigarettes and cigars to advance racial health equity, they must maximize cessation among African American/black (AA/B) individuals who use menthol cigarettes. This work suggests information on the health hazards and costs of smoking, as well as concerns over gaining weight, were predictors of quit intentions in a hypothetical flavor ban. Qualitative data suggest messaging highlighting the experiences of individuals who successfully quit may constitute an effective communication strategy. These insights can be used in the development of culturally specific cessation strategies for AA/B individuals who smoke menthol cigarettes.
美国食品和药物管理局（FDA）提议禁止具有特征风味的香烟和雪茄——这些产品被非裔美国人/黑人（AA/B）群体过度使用。人们对抽薄荷醇香烟的 AA/B 人群对风味禁令的反应以及如何扩大预期的好处知之甚少。本研究探讨了在假设的风味禁令后戒烟意图的预测因素，并进一步探讨了预期的禁令相关反应。
我们从弗吉尼亚州里士满（2021 年 9 月至 2022 年 8 月）招募了 213 名使用薄荷醇香烟的 AA/B 个体，进行了一项混合方法研究。参与者对七个戒烟动机和六个戒烟障碍进行评分（非动机或挑战[1]-主要动机或挑战[4]），然后报告如果香烟和雪茄中的特征风味被禁止，他们戒烟的可能性有多大。31 名参与者的一个子样本完成了半结构化访谈，以进一步探讨对风味限制政策的反应。
多变量线性回归表明，那些因为“关于健康危害的信息”和“香烟成本”而更有动力戒烟的参与者报告在假设的薄荷醇禁令后有更高的戒烟意图（p<0.05）。此外，那些与戒烟相关的体重担忧报告的禁令后戒烟意图较低（p<0.05）。访谈主题强调了通过吸烟来减轻压力、对调味烟草产品的危害/成瘾认知、烟草相关信息的可信来源（包括以前吸烟者的证言）、潜在的禁令反应以及不同的戒烟策略体验。
强调戒烟的健康相关益处的文化特异性戒烟策略，特别是那些突出以前吸烟者经验的策略，可能有助于抽薄荷醇香烟的 AA/B 人群在薄荷醇禁令后戒烟。
为了推进美国食品和药物管理局（FDA）对香烟和雪茄中特征风味的禁令以实现种族健康公平，这些禁令必须最大限度地提高使用薄荷醇香烟的非裔美国人/黑人（AA/B）群体的戒烟率。这项工作表明，关于吸烟危害和成本的信息，以及对体重增加的担忧，是假设的风味禁令中戒烟意图的预测因素。定性数据表明，强调成功戒烟个体经验的信息可能构成有效的沟通策略。这些见解可用于为抽薄荷醇香烟的 AA/B 人群制定文化特异性戒烟策略。
