ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Advertising information on cigarette package participate to the reduction of health risks from smoking. Impact on smokers has been poorly studied. This study intended to determine the smoker perception of nicotine and tar yields of cigarettes. METHODS: Consulting in an outpatient smoking cessation clinic, 171 smokers answered freely and spontaneously to a questionnaire evaluating their perception of nicotine and tar yields, cigarette consumption (number and brand), nicotine dependence. Simultaneously, biological tobacco markers were measured. RESULTS: The number of cigarettes, nicotine dependence and specific tobacco markers were not significantly different according to the cigarette type: "full savour", "light" or "ultra light". Women smoked less than men and 54% preferred "light" cigarettes versus 37% of men. These smokers were entering a tobacco cessation program, it was assumed they had lead a prior reflection about their smoking habits. Only 8% of them gave the correct values of nicotine and tar yields and 14% gave approximate values. Tar levels were highly underestimated. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that smokers have actually no interest for nicotine and tar yields. As the new decree which modifies manufacture's obligation concerning the legal mentions, is applicable in January 2004 in France; our conclusion may change in the future.
