Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: May | Volume: 7 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 116-122
Pictorial Health Warnings on Tobacco Packs- A Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey among Indian Engineering Students
Dr Avinash Kumar1, Dr Manjunath P Puranik2
1MDS, Command Military Dental Centre, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
2MDS, Prof &Head , Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College & Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka,
Corresponding Author: Dr Avinash Kumar
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice about the Pictorial health warnings on tobacco packs among engineering students and identify the areas that need consideration
Methods: Four Hundred engineering students were recruited from various Engineering colleges in Bangalore city, India. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the demographic data as well as knowledge, attitude and practices regarding Pictorial health warnings on tobacco packs.
Results: The majority of the Engineering students (89.5%) were aware about the presence of Pictorial warning labels on the Tobacco packs. About 81.5% were able to understand these Warnings. Majority (90.7%) agreed that Pictorial warnings must be present on tobacco pack. Two third of the students agreed that a tobacco user avoids looking at these Pictorial Warnings. About 42% of the students agreed that this warning encourages one to quit the habit of tobacco usage. Around 37.1% never made an attempt to quit in last one year, inspite of seeing Pictorial warning label on the tobacco packs. Half of the Engineering students (55.5%) opined that there is a need for more gory images.
Conclusions: The Engineering students had knowledge and positive attitudes about the Pictorial warnings on Tobacco packs. But they lacked the motivation to quit the habit in spite of the presence of warnings. Hence, there is a need to motivate them and also make the warnings impactful.
Key words: Pictorial health warnings, tobacco, students, India