Evaluation of transtheoretical model-based questionnaire for tobacco cessation counseling of Class IV workers in Dhule district: A randomized controlled trial

Background: Small number of tobacco users are fully aware of its harmful effects. Warning labels on tobacco products are an effective way of communicating the consequences of tobacco use and bring about behavioral changes such as quitting. Aim: The study aims to test the validity and reliability of a transtheoretical model (TTM) based questionnaire for tobacco cessation in Class IV workers. Methodology: A descriptive randomized control trial was carried out among 268 participants who were randomly selected from Class IV workers of Jawahar Soot Girni, Dhule. The participants were randomly divided by the block randomization technique into two groups equally as Group A and B, where Group A received verbal tobacco counseling and Group B received tobacco counseling in the form of pictorial warning. TTM model-based questionnaire was used as a method of measurement to evaluate the effect of pictorial warning interventions. Results: In the study group, preresponse 64% said no, they did not felt unease due to the presence of health warning, 35.1% of participants said yes, they felt unease due to the presence of health warning and post response was 22.4% said no, they did not felt unease due to the presence of health warning, 77.6% said yes, they felt unease due to the presence of health warning. The comparison showed there is a significant difference in pre- and postscore (P < 0.05). The pictorial warning was found to be statistically significant as compared to verbal instructions only. Conclusion: Warning labels on tobacco packs effectively inform people about the adverse health effects of tobacco when compared to oral instructions.