Potential effectiveness of health warning labels among employees in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE Explore and investigate the perceptions and responses of employees regarding the effects of a Health Warning Label (HWL) on their decision to encourage quitting and stages of change in smoking behavior. MATERIAL AND METHOD One thousand six hundred thirty seven employees in workplaces from four regions, including Bangkok city, were studied during the year 2005-2006. Six hundred nine employees (both non- or cigarette smokers) were part of a cohort study using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Questionnaires were used to sample the cohort twice and two individuals per factory were interviewed in-depth. RESULTS The New-HWL that made the best impression was the "cancer caused by cigarette smoking" and 3.8% stopped smoking after seeing the New-HWL. Moreover, New-HWL increased employees "pro" attitudes about smoking cessation. Decisional balance that reflected different "con" to quit, among non-quitting and quitting smokers. CONCLUSION New-HWL significantly increased attitudes about smoking cessation.