Effectiveness of pictorial warnings on tobacco packs: Hospital-based study findings from Vikarabad

BACKGROUND: Recently, the Indian government introduced pictorial warnings that occupy an important position among different tobacco control initiatives. A study was done to evaluate the opinion of tobacco consumers on the implementation of pictorial warnings on tobacco packs and to compare the effectiveness of these warnings among individuals of varying socioeconomic status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a hospital-based study carried out among the tobacco-using patients attending the Outpatient Department of Sri Sai College of Dental Surgery, Vikarabad, Andhra Pradesh. The number of participants in the survey was 111. Questionnaire method was used for collecting the data. RESULTS: Among the 111 participants, maximum number of study participants using any form of tobacco products were in the age group of 15–24 years, and higher consumption was seen among the lower socioeconomic strata. 88.3% of the participants strongly agreed on strengthening the warnings while 73.2% of them felt that pictures on tobacco packs should occupy 100% of the display area to make them more effective. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that policy makers should not be reluctant to introduce stronger and vivid pictures.