Evaluation of a Mass Media Campaign Promoting Using Help to Quit Smoking

Background Although there is evidence that promoting individual cessation aids increases their utilization, mass media campaigns highlighting the benefit of using help to quit have not been evaluated. Purpose The effects of a Philadelphia adult smoking-cessation media campaign targeting using help in ad taglines were analyzed from March to November 2012. This study distinctively analyzed the campaign's impact at both the population level (effects on the average person) and the individual level (effects among those who reported exposure). Methods The 16-month mass media campaign aired in Philadelphia PA from December 2010 to March 2012. A representative sample of adult Philadelphia smokers was interviewed by telephone at baseline ( n =491) and new samples were interviewed monthly throughout the campaign ( n =2,786). In addition, a subsample of these respondents was reinterviewed 3 months later ( n =877). Results On average, participants reported seeing campaign ads four times per week. Among individual respondents, each additional campaign exposure per week increased the likelihood of later reporting using help (OR=1.08, p Conclusions Although the campaign was effective at the individual level, its effects were too small to have a population-detectable impact.