AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF COMBINED HEALTH WARNINGS ON CIGARETTE PACKETS THROUGH EYE MOVEMENTS

Smoking is the source of fundamental health problems. Activities have been organised throughout the world so that smokers and non-smokers do not encounter smoking-related health problems in society. One such activity is the combined health warnings designed to be printed on cigarette packets. The warnings on cigarette packets are considered as an instrument of education to develop the desired attitudes in individuals by improving their knowledge of health. This research aims to evaluate the effects of 14 combined health warnings printed on cigarette packets on smokers and non-smokers. This is a descriptive research, and it employs a correlation model. The research group was composed of 57 individuals participating in the research on the basis of volunteering. The data were collected through eye-tracking and by means of two forms. According to the findings, the combined warnings on cigarette packets were moderately influential and they were remembered at low levels. It was also found that the participants were familiar with the combined warnings on cigarette packets and that they avoided the warnings. These results demonstrate that the warnings should be re-evaluated by taking diverse demographic properties into consideration. © 2016, Scientific Methodical Center. All rights reserved