Script for the focus group discussions
| Questions* | Rationale/comments |
|---|---|
| IQ—Which brand do you smoke? | This question was asked to enable further acquaintance with the participants and gradually focus the discussion on to the study topic |
| SQ—What determines your choice? | |
| SQ—Which brands do your family and friends smoke? | Only when the discussion stagnated were these sub questions used |
| SQ—How does this influence you? | |
| SQ—What could make you change brand? | |
| SQ—What has already made you change brand? | |
| TQ—What is your opinion about these different brands? | This question was asked to guarantee a fluent transition from the introduction to the key question. The participants were shown packages of some popular brands. Motives for choosing a certain brand were explored |
| SQ—What kind of smokers do you associate with which brands/packages? | Only when the discussion stagnated, these sub questions were used |
| SQ—What do you think are important features of a brand? | |
| SQ—What could make you try a certain brand? | |
| TQ—What is your opinion about these cigarette packages? | In addition, we wanted to explore the opinions and attitudes concerning the packaging of the different brands. Therefore, we asked an open question and some sub-questions |
| SQ—What do you think is important about cigarette packages? | After taking away the different packages of the popular brands, two packages were passed around: one original package and one plain package of the same brand |
| SQ—What role do the colours of the packages play? | |
| SQ—How important is the size of the package? | |
| SQ—What is your opinion of the illustrations on the packages? | |
| SQ—Which other brand would you like to try? For what reason? | |
| SQ—Is the taste important? Why (not)? | |
| KQ—Can you remember what you saw on the two packages? | After taking away the original and the plain package, this key question was asked to check spontaneous recollection |
| SQ—What were the differences between the two packages? | |
| SQ—What do you find positive or negative about either package and why? | |
| SQ—What else did you see on the packages? | |
| SQ—Which health warnings did you see on the two packages? | |
| SQ—On which package did you see these health warnings? | |
| SQ—What were the differences between the two packages? | After the spontaneous recollection, the same questions were asked again when the two packages were distributed a second time |
| SQ—What do you find positive or negative about either package and why? | |
| SQ—What else did you see on the packages? | |
| SQ—Which health warnings did you see on the two packages? | |
| SQ—On which package did you see these health warnings? | |
| KQ—Of all the motives that were mentioned earlier, what is the most important motive for choosing a certain brand? | |
| KQ—If something were to change (eg, price increase), how would this influence your smoking behaviour? | |
| Closing of the FGD | At the end of the FGD, the participants were given the opportunity to come up with additional remarks or suggestions |
*FGD,focus group discussion; IQ, introductory question; KQ, Key question; SQ, sub question; TQ, transition question.