Association between current cigarette prices and cessation behaviors among male adult smokers: findings from 2018 to 2020 ITC Vietnam surveys.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the impact of the tax increase in January 2019 on changes in intention to quit and the effect of cigarette prices on quit attempts and successful quitting among male cigarette smokers in Vietnam. METHODS: Data were derived from the ITC project in Vietnam, which included 1585 adult smokers at baseline (Wave 1, Aug-Oct 2018) followed up to waves 2 (Sep-Nov 2019) and 3 (Sep-Dec 2020). Generalized estimating equations regression was performed to estimate changes in the intention to quit. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the cigarette price of a cigarette pack in relation to quit attempts and successful quitting. RESULTS: The increase in cigarette tax in 2019 did not significantly increase the likelihood of the intention to quit. After the tax increase, 63.6% of participants who smoked made a quit attempt, and 27.6% successfully quit smoking in the follow-up waves. However, the price of a cigarette pack was not significantly associated with quit attempts and successful quitting. The study did not observe a significant impact of cigarette prices on quit attempts and successful quitting in all subgroups of household income. Factors associated with quit attempts included the number of cigarettes smoked and the intention to quit, while those associated with successful quitting included age, dual use of cigarettes and other tobacco products, and the intention to quit. CONCLUSION: Current cigarette prices were not associated with cessation behaviors even within the lowest household income group. Therefore, a sharp rise in cigarette tax is required to incentivize smokers to quit smoking.

Patterns and determinants of tobacco purchase behaviors among male cigarette smokers in Vietnam: A latent class analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding smokers' purchasing patterns can aid in customizing tobacco control initiatives aimed at reducing the tobacco smoking prevalence. Therefore, this study identified cigarette purchase behavior among Vietnamese male smokers and associated demographic and consumption factors. METHODS: We analyzed a secondary dataset of male current tobacco smokers (n=3983) who participated in the Vietnam Global Adult Tobacco Survey in 2015. We applied the latent class analysis (LCA) to identify the classes of purchase behavior among cigarette smokers (n=1241). Multinomial logistic regression was performed to identify demographics (education level, ethnicity, partnership status, and household socioeconomic status) and cigarette consumption variables (smoking years and heavy smoking status) related to purchase behavior classes. The results are reported as an adjusted relative risk ratio (ARRR). RESULTS: The LCA identified four cigarette purchase behaviors classes: Class 1 (price-insensitive and purchased international brand: 44.4%), Class 2 (price-sensitive and purchased domestic brand: 27.6%), Class 3 (price-sensitive and purchased cigarettes in a street vendor: 18.6%), and Class 4: price-sensitive and purchased loose/carton cigarette: 9.4%). The poorer economic groups were more likely to belong to the three price-sensitive classes. Heavy smokers and those who had smoked for a longer period were more likely to belong to Class 3 (ARRR=2.33; 95% CI: 1.51-3.58 and ARRR=1.02; 95% CI: 1.001-1.05, respectively) and Class 4 (ARRR=2.94; 95% CI: 1.71-5.06 and ARRR=1.05; 95% CI: 1.02-1.08, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Varied purchasing behaviors among male cigarette smokers, influenced by divergent price sensitivities and economic backgrounds, underscore the need for comprehensive tobacco control. Future efforts should include targeted policy interventions, behavior modification, and reshaping social norms.