Abstract

Background: 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 Indore city.

Objective: 1) To assess the impact of pictorial and text warning on consumption pattern of tobacco after the enactment of COTPA act 2014

2) To co-relate the impact with the age of the study population

3) To suggest appropriate recommendation on the basis of study.

Methodology: The present study is a cross sectional study, conducted in the randomly selected 150 person Pan shops around MGM Medical College, Indore for 3 months. All age groups and of varying socioeconomic status coming to pan shops near MGM medical college, Indore. The study tool of the study is Pre Tested semi structured Questionnaire, Data was entered in excel sheet and analyzed using SPSS Software, appropriate statistical test was applied wherever necessary.

Results: In this study population, 60% of the people have decreased their tobacco consumption after the introduction of the health warning, 34.7% of the study population have considered quitting and have reduced its consumption, and 78.7% of the study population believes that the warning is beneficial.  The average age group of the study subjects was 20-28 years i.e. young age group. (76.7%) of respondents were males.

Conclusion: Tobacco awareness programs and tobacco cessation services must be planned and implemented. There is a need for social movement with all the stakeholders including states participating in it for controlling the use of tobacco.

Keywords: COTPA, Tobacco Products, Public Health.