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COCHRANE REVIEW: CAN TOBACCO CONTROL PROGRAMMES THAT INCLUDE A MASS MEDIA CAMPAIGN HELP TO REDUCE LEVELS OF SMOKING AMONG ADULTS?

Wednesday, 5th of November 2014

COCHRANE REVIEW: CAN TOBACCO CONTROL PROGRAMMES THAT INCLUDE A MASS MEDIA CAMPAIGN HELP TO REDUCE LEVELS OF SMOKING AMONG ADULTS?

Bala MM, Strzeszynski L, Topor-Madry R, Cahill K

Published Online: 

6 June 2013

Mass media interventions involve communication through television, radio, newspapers, billboards, posters, leaflets or booklets, with the intention of encouraging smokers to stop, and of maintaining abstinence in non-smokers. It is likely that they contribute to a reduction in smoking when used as part of a complex set of interventions, but it is difficult to establish their independent role and value in this process. Eleven studies are included in this review, but they are of variable scale and quality. Five large studies out of the nine which reported smoking prevalence found some positive changes in smoking behaviour. Three large studies out of seven that measured the quantity of tobacco smoked found reductions. Four of the seven studies which measured quit rates reported significant increases in abstinence, but this finding was difficult to interpret because studies used different definitions of smoking, smokers and quit attempts. The intensity and duration of mass media campaigns may influence effectiveness, but length of follow-up and concurrent events in the community can make this difficult to verify. We found no consistent patterns between the effects of the campaigns and age, education, ethnicity or gender of those taking part.

Background: 

Mass media tobacco control campaigns can reach large numbers of people. Much of the literature is focused on the effects of tobacco control advertising on young people, but there are also a number of evaluations of campaigns targeting adult smokers, which show mixed results. Campaigns may be local, regional or national, and may be combined with other components of a comprehensive tobacco control policy.

Objectives: 

To assess the effectiveness of mass media interventions in reducing smoking among adults.

Search strategy: 

The Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group search strategy was combined with additional searches for any studies that referred to tobacco/smoking cessation, mass media and adults. We also searched the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and a number of electronic databases. The last search was carried out in February 2013.

Selection criteria: 

Controlled trials allocating communities, regions or states to intervention or control conditions; interrupted time series.
Adults, 25 years or older, who regularly smoke cigarettes. Studies which cover all adults as defined in studies were included.
Mass media are defined here as channels of communication such as television, radio, newspapers, billboards, posters, leaflets or booklets intended to reach large numbers of people, and which are not dependent on person-to-person contact. The purpose of the mass media campaign must be primarily to encourage smokers to quit. They could be carried out alone or in conjunction with tobacco control programmes.
The primary outcome was change in smoking behaviour. This could be reported as changes in prevalence, changes in cigarette consumption, quit rates, odds of being a smoker.

Data collection and analysis: 

Two authors independently assessed all studies for inclusion criteria and for study quality (MB, LS, RTM). One author (MB) extracted data, and a second author (LS) checked them.
Results were not pooled due to heterogeneity of the included studies and are presented narratively and in table form.

Main results: 

Eleven campaigns met the inclusion criteria for this review. Studies differed in design, settings, duration, content and intensity of intervention, length of follow-up, methods of evaluation and also in definitions and measures of smoking behaviour used. Among nine campaigns reporting smoking prevalence, significant decreases were observed in the California and Massachusetts statewide tobacco control campaigns compared with the rest of the USA. Some positive effects on prevalence in the whole population or in the subgroups were observed in three of the remaining seven studies. Three large-scale campaigns of the seven presenting results for tobacco consumption found statistically significant decreases. Among the seven studies presenting abstinence or quit rates, four showed some positive effect, although in one of them the effect was measured for quitting and cutting down combined. Among the three that did not show significant decreases, one demonstrated a significant intervention effect on smokers and ex-smokers combined.

Authors conclusions: 

There is evidence that comprehensive tobacco control programmes which include mass media campaigns can be effective in changing smoking behaviour in adults, but the evidence comes from a heterogeneous group of studies of variable methodological quality. One state-wide tobacco control programme (Massachusetts) showed positive results up to eight years after the campaign. Another (California) showed positive results during the period of adequate funding and implementation and in final evaluation since the beginning of the programme. Six of nine studies carried out in communities or regions showed some positive effects on smoking behaviour and at least one significant change in smoking prevalence (Sydney). The intensity and duration of mass media campaigns may influence effectiveness, but length of follow-up and concurrent secular trends and events can make this difficult to quantify. No consistent relationship was observed between campaign effectiveness and age, education, ethnicity or gender.

This record should be cited as: 

Bala MM, Strzeszynski L, Topor-Madry R, Cahill K. Mass media interventions for smoking cessation in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD004704. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004704.pub3

Assessed as up to date: 

28 February 2013