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Public Knowledge and Credibility Perceptions of the FDA as a Tobacco Regulator
Schmidt, A. M., Jarman, K. L., Ranney, L. M., Queen, T. L., Noar, S. M., Ruel, L., Agans, R., Hannan, A., & Goldstein, A. O. (2018). Public Knowledge and Credibility Perceptions of the FDA as a Tobacco Regulator. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 20(11), 1310-1316. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntx215
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.