An e-book on industry tactics: preliminary results about readers’ opinions and awareness

For decades, tobacco companies have undermined tobacco control measures. The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) Tobacco Control Group created an e-book outlining 7 key-tactics (Advertising, Front groups, Manipulating the media, Funding scientific research, Political lobbying, Electronic alternatives as “harm reduction”, and Legal challenges) used by the industry to influence public and political opinion 1 . Objective of the study was to raise awareness on the topic. Methods: E-book key-tactics were researched, written and revised by group members from public health backgrounds. The e-book was distributed through member networks and published on the WFPHA website and social media. Readers were asked to answer questions designed in consultation with tobacco control experts using a Likert scale. Results: 251 readers (mainly university students) answered the survey from 21 countries and various health and public health disciplines. 95.2% would recommend the e-book to a colleague (46.2% ‘very likely’, 49% ‘likely’) and 87.2% stated it improved their understanding of tobacco industry tactics. Readers agreed or strongly agreed that: electronic alternatives should be regulated as strictly as cigarettes (76.9%); governments should sue tobacco companies for healthcare costs (64.9%); political donations by tobacco companies should be banned (56.2%). Readers disagreed or strongly disagreed that: retailers should be allowed to accept payments from tobacco companies to incentivise product sales (58.6%); tobacco companies do not influence politicians in their country (58.6%); there is adequate teaching about tobacco industry interference in training of healthcare professionals (53.0%). Main conclusions: Readers of the e-book said it improved their understanding of tobacco industry tactics from a wide range of backgrounds, with high rates of recommendation. E-books are an innovative way to disseminate knowledge especially among young people.