Background
Many countries have been legally prescribing graphic health warning labels on cigarette package as a part of their national policy of smoking cessation. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of graphic health warning labels of Canada, Singapore and European union, in Korean for smoking cessation. Methods: From February to July in 2005, we surveyed 110 people who were high school students and college students. After showing them the 64 graphic health warning labels (16 from Canada, 6 from Singapore and 42 from European union), the self recorded questionnaires were collected. Results: The effectiveness for smoking cessation was related to the arousal levels of visual effects and it had the same result for each country in which we researched. The high arousal loss-framed graphic health warning labels were more effective than the gain-framed low arousal ones. Conclusion: To quit smoking, it can be reasonably concluded that high and negative images of health that were shown on warning labels of cigarette packages were effective. Hereafter, it is recommended more useful and proper designs of graphic warning labels be developed and applied. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2007;28:923-930)

Background
: In an effort to use cigarette warning labels as a means for reducing smoking rates, this study examined current cigarette warning messages and newly designed pictorial warning labels.

Methods : From June 15, 2005, to June 22, 2005 we conducted an e-mail survey of 1,200 civilians to examine the effect of cigarette warning labels. For statistical analysis, we used chi-square test with SPSS 11.0 software.

Results : Among all the respondents, 78.7% indicated that current cigarette warning labels did not have any effect. However, most of the respondents indicated that pictorial warning labels are effective in raising public awareness (84.6%) or knowledge (81.5%) of the harmful effects of cigarettes. They also responded that pictorial warning labels would help them quit smoking (75.9%) or keep them from buying cigarettes (64.1%). Over 80% of the respondents and over 70% of the smokers responded that they would welcome the use of pictorial warning labels as an anti-smoking measure.

Conclusion : The results of this study showed that current cigarette warning labels are not effective in curbing smoking rates. Also, the results suggest that current cigarette warning labels need to be improved if they are to be used as an effective anti-smoking measure.

Background
: Many countries have been legally prescribing health warning messages on cigarette packages as a part of their national policy of smoking cessation. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness for smoking cessation of graphic health warning labels, and compare them with the existing health warning messages.

Methods : From February to December 2002, we surveyed 103 smokers who were college students of fine arts. After letfing them see the graphic health warning labels, the self recorded questionnaires were collected.

Results : The effectiveness for the smoking cessation of the existing health warning messages was evaluated low, despite its wide recognition. But there was no difference between the visual effect and the effectiveness for the smoking cessation of the graphic health warning labels. The graphic health warning labels were more effective for the smoking cessation than the existing health warning messages, and it was the same in the subgroup analysis such as sex, degree of recognition of disease, and non- smoking planning.

Conclusion : To quit smoking, it is reasonably concluded that the graphic health warning labels on cigarette packages was very effective. Hereafter, it is recommended more useful designs of graphic health warning labels be developed.

Background
: Tobacco health warning labelling as one of the smoking education act has been improved in many countries. But there was no change of tobacco health warning labelling after 1989 in korea. So, for the purpose to help developing new tobacco health warning labelling, we searched the recognition rate of tobacco health warning labelling in family physician and their evaluation of labels which were required form 1976 to 1988, and after 1989 in korea.
Method: Family physicians who were participated in autumn conference 2000 of the Korean Academy of Family medicine were questioned about their recognition and evaluation of tobacco health warning labelling required form 1976to 1988 and after 1989.

Results : Response rate to questionnaire was 25%(250/1000), but completely filled response rate included in study was 14.5%(145/1000). The recognition rate of tobacco health warning labelling required in 1976-1988(86.7%) was higher then after 1989(61.4%). When compared by sex, age, and smoking status, each results are similar. Respondents evaluated the tobacco health warning labelling required in 1976-1988 that the information was absolutely small and the vagueness of sentences lead smokers misconceived adverse effect of smoking, and also pointed out that the changed labelling after 1989 is not enough to transmit sufficient information. Respondents recognized that because government provided military personnel with tobacco of free charge, it decreased confidence and warning effect of tobacco health warning labelling(72.4%). Respondents answered active campaign of government against smoking would increase the effect of tobacco health warning labelling(92.4%), but the monopoly of tobacco production by government would support (local) government finance(75.9%).

Conclusion : New tobacco health warning labelling is needed to increase readability, warning, information against smoking, because present labelling is not recognized well and limited to give information against smoking.