This article studies both the effects of where cigarette cartons are placed and the presence of tobacco advertising in stores, on U.S. teen’s likelihood to purchase them. The study that was conducted tracked the purchases made by 1,200 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17, both smokers and non-smokers, in several virtual convenience stores that contained different cigarette sale scenarios. There were six different virtual convenience store situations as to where the teens were given free rein to what they clicked and purchased. The results were that there was minimal impact on cigarette shopping habits. But, when teens were shopping in stores where the tobacco products were hidden, 32% appeared to be aware of the availability of cigarettes. While 85% of those who shopped in stores where cigarettes were openly on display knew that purchasing cigarettes was one of their options. Also, 9% of teens shopping in the hidden display scenario bought cigarettes while 24% of those who virtually shopped in a store where cigarettes were present did not purchase them. Ultimately, by storing tobacco products behind enclosed cabinets and out of the view from adolescents, it could have a positive public health impact discouraging kids from purchasing cigarettes.
I found this study interesting because it examined the impact of the theory of planned behavior and the social cognitive theory, through electronic health. By creating these virtual scenarios, the theory of planned behavior was tested because tobacco advertisement was removed. This showed adolescents that the subjective norms were to not walk into a convenience store and immediately make that tobacco purchase. It reinforced the perceived behavioral control of non-smokers to not test their curiosity and purchase a packet of cigarettes. Secondly, the social cognitive theory was tested in this virtual convenience store shopping experiment when the personal inputs of both smoking and non-smoking adolescents were selected and when six different environmental scenarios were presented. By taking both of these influential factors, the study examined how they affected ones self-efficacy, and action to purchase a pack of cigarettes.
Surgeon General Calls Teen Smoking\
Rebecca Flora
vthealthcomm 