%A Bhardwaj, Vinay %A Fotedar, Shailee %A Abbot, Sunil %A Jhingta, Pravesh %A Sharma, Deepak %A Negi, Nishant %T Awareness of pictorial warning on cigarette packets and its impact on smoking cessation among smokers in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: A cross-sectional study %9 Original Article %D 2016 %J International Journal of Health & Allied Sciences %R 10.4103/2278-344X.187802 %P 148-153 %V 5 %N 3 %U https://www.ijhas.in/article.asp?issn=2278-344X;year=2016;volume=5;issue=3;spage=148;epage=153;aulast=Bhardwaj %8 July 1, 2016 %X Background: Pictorial warnings are effective in promoting smoking cessation as shown by researches in the developed countries. The Government of India has also introduced pictorial warnings as one of the strategies among different tobacco control strategies. Objective: The objective of this study was to find the awareness of pictorial warnings present on cigarette packets and its impact on smoking cessation among cigarette smokers in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 200 patients attending the outpatient department in the Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnosis from May 1, 2010 to August 31, 2010. Structured questionnaire consisted of demographic details, health-related issues of smoking, awareness about pictorial warning, and impact to quit smoking. Results: Among the study patients, maximum number of patients who were using any form of tobacco products were 35-44-year-old, and higher consumption was seen among the people from lower socioeconomic status. Younger age group, i.e., ≤25 years, those with higher socioeconomic status, urban residence, and literate were more aware about pictorial warning on cigarette packs and majority of them were about to quit smoking. Conclusion: Pictorial warning is an effective method to improve the awareness among smokers on the deleterious effects of smoking. The present study has shown significant results as the youngsters are less involved in the habit of smoking, aware about pictorial warning on the cigarette pack depicts, and motivated to quit smoking after knowing the harmful effects which the warning on packs reveals. %0 Journal Article %I Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications %@ 2278-344X