Potential effectiveness of health warning labels among employees in Thailand.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Explore and investigate the perceptions and responses of employees regarding the effects of a Health Warning Label (HWL) on their decision to encourage quitting and stages of change in smoking behavior. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One thousand six hundred thirty seven employees in workplaces from four regions, including Bangkok city, were studied during the year 2005-2006. Six hundred nine employees (both non- or cigarette smokers) were part of a cohort study using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Questionnaires were used to sample the cohort twice and two individuals per factory were interviewed in-depth. RESULTS: The New-HWL that made the best impression was the "cancer caused by cigarette smoking" and 3.8% stopped smoking after seeing the New-HWL. Moreover, New-HWL increased employees "pro" attitudes about smoking cessation. Decisional balance that reflected different "con" to quit, among non-quitting and quitting smokers. CONCLUSION: New-HWL significantly increased attitudes about smoking cessation.