Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33495253›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2021

Message framing to inform cancer prevention pricing interventions in the UK and USA: a factorial experiment, 2019.

Joseph G L Lee, Julie V Cristello, Christina H Buckton, Rachel N Carey, Elisa M Trucco, Paulina M Schenk, Theresa Ikegwuonu, Shona Hilton, Shelley D Golden, David I Conway

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Reactions to a Hypothetical Ban of Open-System Electronic Cigarettes Among People Who Currently Use Electronic Cigarettes.Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Joseph G L LeeDepartment of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA LEEJOSE14@ecu.edu.ORCID 0000-0001-9698-649X
Julie V CristelloDepartment of Psychology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7513-2206
Christina H BucktonMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Rachel N CareyDepartment of Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Elisa M TruccoDepartment of Psychology and Center for Children and Families, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA.
Paulina M SchenkDepartment of Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
Theresa IkegwuonuMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Shona HiltonMRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-0633-8152
Shelley D GoldenCancer Prevention and Control, University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
David I ConwaySchool of Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.

Funding

Training Program in Adolescent Substance Use Disorders and Co-Occurring Mental and Behavioral DisordersT32DA043449 · NIDA · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · PI Raul Gonzalez · 2019 to 2026
$1.7M
Environment, Genes, and Temperament on the Development of Alcohol Use DisorderK08AA023290 · NIAAA · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · PI TRUCCO, ELISA MARIA · 2015 to 2019
$818k
Cancer Research UK 25644Chief Scientist Office SPHSU13Chief Scientist Office SPHSU15Chief Scientist Office SPHSU17Medical Research Council MC_UU_00022/2Medical Research Council MC_UU_12017/13Medical Research Council MC_UU_12017/15NIAAA NIH HHS K08 AA023290NIDA NIH HHS T32 DA043449
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo advance understanding of how message framing can be used to maximise public support across different pricing policies for alcohol, tobacco and sugary drinks/foods that prevent consumption of cancer-causing products.

designWe designed a 3×4×3 randomised factorial experiment to test responses to messages with three pricing policies, four message frames and three products.

settingOnline survey panel (Qualtrics) in 2019.

participantsAdults (N=1850) from the UK and USA.

interventionsParticipants randomly viewed one of 36 separate messages that varied by pricing policy (increasing taxes, getting rid of price discounts, getting rid of low-cost products), four frames and product (alcohol, tobacco, sugary drinks/foods). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed the relationship between the message characteristics and four dependent variables. Three were related to policy support: (1) increasing taxes on the product mentioned in the message, (2) getting rid of price discounts and special offers on the product mentioned in the message and (3) getting rid of low-cost versions of the product mentioned in the message. One was related to reactance, a psychological response to having one's freedom limited.

resultsWe found no effect for pricing policy in the message. Frames regarding children and reducing cancer risk moderated some outcomes, showing promise for real-world use. We found differences in support by product and reactance with greatest support and least reactance for tobacco policies, less support and more reactance for alcohol policies, and the least support and most reactance for sugary drinks/foods policies.

conclusionsCancer prevention efforts using policy interventions can be informed by the message framing literature. Our results offer insights for cancer prevention advocacy efforts across the UK and USA and highlight that tax versus non-tax approaches to increasing the cost of cancer-causing products result in similar responses from consumers.

Indexed as

CommerceAdultChildCosts and Cost AnalysisDelivery of Health CareHealth CommunicationHealth PolicyHumansNeoplasmsPreventive MedicinePublic HealthTaxesUnited Kingdomhealth policypreventive medicinepublic health

Identifiers

PMID33495253
PMCPMC7839858

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.