Impact of Smoking Information on Concerns About Radon

Summary

Despite a push for tailored messages, health communications are often aimed at, and viewed by, people with varying levels of risk. This project examined-in the context of radon risk messages-whether information relevant to high-risk individuals can have an unintended influence on lower-risk individuals. Specifically, the investigators assessed whether information about lung-cancer risk from smoking reduced concerns about lung-cancer risk from radon among nonsmokers. The investigators hypothesized that non-smokers who read a message that included smoking-relevant information would express less concern about the effects of radon exposure and less interest in testing their home compared to those who read a version in which smoking-relevant information was excluded. Two studies were conducted. Although the investigators did not exclude smokers, the focus was on participants self-identifying as nonsmokers (including never smokers and former smokers).

Conditions

• Lung Neoplasms
• Radon Exposure
• Smoking
• Intention
• Risk Reduction Behavior

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Radon & Smoking Synergistic

Participants viewed health information detailing the risks of developing lung cancer from exposure to radon gas, smoking, and their synergistic effects. This intervention represents the type of information most commonly presented in radon risk communications.

BEHAVIORAL

Radon Only

Participants viewed health information detailing the risks of developing lung cancer from radon exposure. No information about the risks for developing lung cancer associated with smoking or its synergistic effect with radon exposure are included.

BEHAVIORAL

Radon and Smoking Isolated

Participants viewed health information detailing the risks of developing lung cancer from radon exposure and smoking. No information describing the synergistic effects of smoking and radon exposure on lung cancer risk are included.

BEHAVIORAL

EPA

Health information modeled after the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) pamphlet on radon risk.

BEHAVIORAL

Idaho

Health information modeled after the Idaho Department of Health and Human Welfare's pamphlet on radon risk.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Paul Windschitl

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-08-07

Primary Completion

2016-04-22

Completion

2016-04-22