For someone who smokes, turning away from cigarettes despite the possible health hazards they can get is extremely hard to do. However, a recent study shows that putting graphic warning signs on cigarette packs can actually help them quit smoking.
In a recent study conducted by a team of researchers from Ohio State University, it is found out that by putting pictures of what tobacco can do to the body helped them to convince smokers to stop. According to Ellen Peters, a study co-author and professor at the said university, the vivid images they used were able to make the smokers think about what kind of damages they will get if they continue this habit. She also added that the graphics gave the smokers doubts and negative feeling about what things smoking can really do to their bodies.
The study is considered as the first one to reveal a real-world evidence of the damages that smoking can do consisted of at least 244 adults who smoke between 5 to 40 cigarettes a day. All the test subjects were then divided into three groups. The first one received a pack of cigarettes with graphic warning signs, while the second one received the usual word warning, and the third one received a combination of the two.
Over the course of four weeks, Peters and her team observed all the adults and found out that those who were in the first and third group have more negative feelings about smoking and have actually thought of quitting. On the other hand, those who belonged in the second group are still normal and are still at the same pace with their habit.
After the study, the researchers were able to conclude that by using graphic images, they were able to motivate most of the smokers to stop and rethink their actions. Abigail Evans, a co-author of the study, backed up their findings by saying that the experiment is the first one to provide the most real evidence of how effective it is to use graphic images than worded warnings that are often ignored by smokers all over the world.
