Mathios A, Avery RJ, Kenkel DS, Lillard DR; Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy. Meeting.
Abstr Acad Health Serv Res Health Policy Meet. 2002; 19: 8.
Cornell University, 123 MVR Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; Tel: (607) 255-2589; Fax: (607) 255-4071; E-mail: adm5@cornell.edu
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to investigate how the regulation of smoking cessation products affects the flow of information from manufacturers to consumers and to outline an empirical research agenda that will provide policy makers with the key evidence they need. STUDY DESIGN: Regulations governing the flow of smoking cessation product information to consumers have changed dramatically over the last twenty years. This study will document these changes and then utilize an economic framework to analyze the likely impact that these regulatory events have had on consumer knowledge and behavior with respect to these products. Based on this framework, a set of research hypotheses will be developed to set a research agenda for those interested in investigating these issues. An outline of the empirical projects the authors have begun to address some of these hypotheses will be discussed. POPULATION STUDIED: The project will focus on the likely impact of the regulation of smoking cessation products on the national population with a particular focus on how different demographic populations are likely to be affected. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The regulation of smoking cessation product advertising has undergone dramatic change during the 1980s and 1990s. The products were initially approved as prescription drugs only and thus were subject to the regulations governing all prescription drug advertising. When many of these products were first introduced there was a de facto ban on many of the usual ways new products are promoted to consumers. Many of these products were subsequently approved as over-the-counter drugs and thus faced significantly fewer regulatory restrictions on direct to consumer advertising. Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration also relaxed some of the restrictions for direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription drugs during this period. All of these regulatory changes lead to particular predictions about how these will be related to quit rates. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the regulation of smoking cessation products can have important health implications for consumers. Understanding these regulatory changes and what research is needed to evaluate the impact of these changes can be an important part of public health efforts to curb the use of tobacco in the United States. This paper outlines the key research needed in this area. IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY, DELIVERY OR PRACTICE: Producer advertising of smoking cessation products may help achieve some of the same public health goals as public service anti-smoking messages. The study concludes by outlining a set of empirical questions that need to be answered to help policy makers understand how regulations governing the flow of smoking cessation information can be structured to best protect consumers and yet at the same time ensure the flow of truthful and valuable information to consumers. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: NCI
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Advertising as Topic
- Health Services Needs and Demand
- Pharmaceutical Preparations
- Prescriptions, Drug
- Public Policy
- Smoking
- Smoking Cessation
- United States
- United States Federal Trade Commission
- United States Food and Drug Administration
- hsrmtgs
Other ID:
UI: 102274032
From Meeting Abstracts