Webinar: Tobacco Ad Messaging Strategies at Point-of-Sale – A Health Equity Focused Case Study

Join Counter Tools for our next quarterly webinar in our “Healthy POS Webinar Series” coming up on May 27, 2020 at 1:00pm EST.

Dr. Carrie Rosario of the University of NC at Greensboro presents: Despite evidence of disparities in exposure to tobacco retailers and point-of-sale advertising, little is known about the extent to which tobacco advertisements within African American communities use three prominent messaging strategies: reassure use is safe despite health risks, redirect attention from health risks to other product features, or incite bravery to use despite health risks. Using a multi-stage design, this study used Countertools.org StoreMapper to identify retailers, then assessed tobacco ad messages at retail stores in predominately African American communities in NC. Findings suggest messaging strategies differ across product types. Cigarette and nonlarge cigar advertisement messages may prey upon African American communities by redirecting focus from harmful product effects toward favorable product attributes. Additionally, reassurance messaging may misconstrue risks associated with e-cigarettes. Countering misleading messages and advocating policies regarding advertisement content and density within African American communities could help reduce health disparities.

Dr. Rosario is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where she also serves as Associate Chair of the Department of Public Health Education. Her primary research interests are to advance place-based public health and impact social determinants of tobacco-related health disparities. Dr. Rosario’s research and practice are guided by principles of social justice and health equity in tobacco prevention and control.

If you would like to attend, register in advance for this webinar here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9TGeWbaHQiaFvvfOgSzASA 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.