Grant Details
Grant Number: |
3R01CA240732-02S1 Interpret this number |
Primary Investigator: |
Goldstein, Adam |
Organization: |
Univ Of North Carolina Chapel Hill |
Project Title: |
Communicating Cancer Risk to CO-Users of Alcohol and Little Cigar and Cigarillos |
Fiscal Year: |
2020 |
Abstract
ABSTRACT
This application is being submitted in response to the Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) identified as
NOT-CA-20-039. Over a third of cancer deaths in the United States are attributable to using tobacco and
drinking alcohol. These two behaviors synergistically impact the risk of multiple cancers. Little research has
been conducted on how to communicate the cancer risks of alcohol and tobacco co-use, despite the fact that
co-use of both substances is high. Public health researchers have successfully used strategies—such as
media campaigns, point-of-sale advertisements, and warning labels—to communicate about cancer risks
linked to tobacco. Comparatively, less research exists about communication strategies to inform messages
about the cancer risks of alcohol. No communication strategies, to our knowledge, have been used to
communicate about the cancer risks of co-using alcohol and tobacco. The long-term goal of the proposed
administrative supplement is to determine whether messages that communicate about the cancer risks of
cousing alcohol and tobacco increase risk perceptions, perceived message effectiveness, knowledge, and
tobacco quit intentions and decrease alcohol use intentions among individuals who currently co-use tobacco
and alcohol. To accomplish this goal, we propose one specific aim that will complement and add significant
value to our Parent Study (1R01CA240732-01), which is focused on communicating cancer and other health
risks of little cigars and cigarillos (LCCs). Specifically, for this administrative supplement, we aim to develop
and experimentally test communication messages about the cancer risks of co-using alcohol and tobacco (e.g.,
“alcohol and tobacco both increase your risk of oral cancer”) among a diverse sample of 1,000 adults who
currently drink alcohol and smoke LCCs. We will oversample young adults and African Americans because the
co-use of alcohol and tobacco is especially problematic among young adults, and African American adults are
more likely to use LCCs than white adults. Participants will be recruited from across the US to participate in a
series of online experiments. Our working hypothesis is that the most robust communication messages about
the cancer risks of alcohol and tobacco (e.g., messages that mention a specific cancer, describe the cancer’s
consequences, and include text to promote quitting self-efficacy) will increase risk perceptions, perceived
message effectiveness, knowledge, and tobacco quit intentions and decrease alcohol use intentions among
co-users of LCCs and alcohol. Messages developed from our administrative supplement and Parent Study can
be used in media campaigns, point-of-sale advertising, and warning labels by states, localities, and other
countries to increase awareness of cancer risks of co-using alcohol and tobacco. This supplement may also
provide data to support a randomized controlled trial to determine if cancer messaging on co-use leads to
behavioral changes.
Publications
None. See parent grant details.