Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Sep 25;20(11):1310-1316.
doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntx215.

Public Knowledge and Credibility Perceptions of the FDA as a Tobacco Regulator

Allison M Schmidt  1 , Kristen L Jarman  2 , Leah M Ranney  3 , Tara L Queen  2 , Seth M Noar  2   4 , Laura Ruel  4 , Robert Agans  5 , Anika Hannan  6 , Adam O Goldstein  3
Affiliations

Public Knowledge and Credibility Perceptions of the FDA as a Tobacco Regulator

Allison M Schmidt et al. Nicotine Tob Res. .

Abstract

Introduction: Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was granted regulatory authority over tobacco products in 2009, few studies have examined perceived credibility of the FDA in this role. The current study assessed knowledge and credibility of the FDA as a regulator of tobacco products.

Methods: In a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults (N = 4758), we assessed knowledge that the FDA regulates the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of cigarettes, and credibility of the FDA as a tobacco regulator. We examined demographic differences in knowledge and credibility, and associations of knowledge and trust in government with credibility perceptions.

Results: Less than half of respondents reported knowing the FDA regulates how cigarettes are sold (46.8%) and advertised (49.7%), and only 36.0% knew the FDA regulates how cigarettes are made, with few demographic differences. Respondents reported that the FDA was moderately credible in regulating tobacco. Knowledge of the FDA as a tobacco regulator and trust in government were the strongest predictors of credibility. Being of younger age, being White (compared to African American), and being male were associated with higher credibility ratings of the FDA.

Conclusions: Much of the public still does not know that the FDA regulates tobacco products, and credibility perceptions are moderate. Greater knowledge of the FDA's regulatory role was associated with higher credibility; efforts that increase the public's understanding of the FDA's role as a tobacco regulator may positively impact views of the agency's credibility. This may in turn improve public reception to the FDA's messages and regulations.

Implications: This study is the first to show nationally representative estimates of both knowledge and credibility of the FDA as a tobacco regulator. Our research shows further that knowledge of the FDA's tobacco regulatory roles is likely to be an important factor related to perceived credibility of the FDA. Increasing the public's knowledge of the FDA's roles may enhance the agency's credibility, which can improve public reception to messages and regulations.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Congress. Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. PUBLIC LAW 111–31 [H.R. 1256]. 2009.
    1. Food and Drug Administration. Deeming tobacco products to be subject to the federal food, drug, and cosmetic Act, as amended by the family smoking prevention and tobacco control Act; Restrictions on the sale and distribution of tobacco products and required warning statements for tobacco products. Final rule. Fed Regist. 2016;81(90):28973. - PubMed
    1. Food and Drug Administration. The Real Cost 2016; https://therealcost.betobaccofree.hhs.gov/?g=t. Accessed October 27, 2016.
    1. Food and Drug Administration. Fresh Empire 2016; https://freshempire.betobaccofree.hhs.gov. Accessed October 27, 2016.
    1. Food and Drug Administration. This Free Life 2016; https://thisfreelife.betobaccofree.hhs.gov. Accessed October 27, 2016.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources