Parents may be more likely to quit smoking with messages about the impact on kids' health

Parents who are smokers say they would be more likely to quit if messages about cessation included information about the harm to children. Researchers surveyed 180 parent smokers, who were asked to choose from a series of informational messages about smoking cessation. Messages that were framed around the impact of cigarettes on children's health, including about secondhand smoke, consistently ranked higher than framing around the effects on family or individual health. Messages around the financial impact of cigarette smoking — whether on the child, family, or parent — ranked among the lowest. Future research should evaluate the best way to deliver messages about the impact of smoking on children to parents, the researchers suggest.