Universal Journal of Management Vol. 4(7), pp. 386 - 392
DOI: 10.13189/ujm.2016.040702
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Knowledge and Attitudes towards Proposed Graphic Warnings in a Set of Male Health Care Workers in the National Hospital of Sri Lanka

Rahubaddha A.N. ^1,*, Rajakaruna H.I. ¹, Rajakaruna P.A.S.Y. ¹, Jayasinghe S. ^2
1 Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
² Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

ABSTRACT

Introduction - The Sri Lankan government took measures to introduce new legislation to include graphic warnings covering 60% of the surface area of packets of cigarettes affecting from 1 January 2015. In this study we aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes towards proposed graphic warnings on packets of cigarettes in a set of male health care workers. Method - An institution based cross sectional descriptive and analytical study was carried out in the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. The study population comprised of 119 semi-skilled workers who were selected via multi step simple random sampling. A self-administered questionnaire and samples of packets of cigarettes containing model pictorial warnings were used as study instruments. Results - Majority (63.21%) of the study population were unable to recall the already existing text-only warning messages printed on packets of cigarettes. Majority (89.47%) of the study population endorsed the view that the demonstrated sample pictorial warnings were effective in sending a stronger warning message to smokers than the prevailing text-only warnings. Majority (80.39%) of the smokers thought that the demonstrated sample graphic warnings would have a negative impact on their smoking habits. Statistically significant amount of smokers than non-smokers thought that the proposed graphic warnings would have a negative impact on future smokers. Conclusions and recommendations - These findings provide strong support for introducing graphic warnings on packets of cigarettes. Proposed graphic warnings will most likely affect the smoking habits of the public and the smokers would be made more likely to contemplate quitting smoking. Such a shift in attitude in the population could be a major impetus to reduce the smoking rate. However retrospective studies are recommended after the introduction of the graphic warnings to assess their true impact.

KEYWORDS
Graphic Warnings, Tobacco, Smoking

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Rahubaddha A.N. , Rajakaruna H.I. , Rajakaruna P.A.S.Y. , Jayasinghe S. , "Knowledge and Attitudes towards Proposed Graphic Warnings in a Set of Male Health Care Workers in the National Hospital of Sri Lanka," Universal Journal of Management, Vol. 4, No. 7, pp. 386 - 392, 2016. DOI: 10.13189/ujm.2016.040702.

(b). APA Format:
Rahubaddha A.N. , Rajakaruna H.I. , Rajakaruna P.A.S.Y. , Jayasinghe S. (2016). Knowledge and Attitudes towards Proposed Graphic Warnings in a Set of Male Health Care Workers in the National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Universal Journal of Management, 4(7), 386 - 392. DOI: 10.13189/ujm.2016.040702.