Maansi Bansal-Travers Maansi Bansal-Travers, PhD, MS

Maansi Bansal-Travers

PhD, MS

Special Interests:

Health communications and health policy Risk perceptions of nicotine and tobacco products Tobacco product regulation Product-specific tobacco education Risk communication International tobacco research and regulation
About Me

Biography:

Maansi Bansal-Travers, PhD currently works as a Research Scientist in the Department of Health Behavior at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.  She received her undergraduate degree in Human Nutrition and Food Management from The Ohio State University, and her Masters degree in Epidemiology and Doctorate in Epidemiology and Community Health from the State University of New York at Buffalo.  She also serves on the Tobacco Control Advisory Board for the New York State Department of Health. 

Dr. Bansal-Travers currently directs the Health Communications Testing Lab, in the Department of Health Behavior, which focuses on testing materials, including cigarette pack design variations, print messages, and television ads, using Web surveys, focus groups, and eye-tracking methodology, to help produce the most salient and effective health communications campaigns.  Her research interests include exploring areas of misperceptions held by smokers about cigarette package design, health warning labels, product characteristics, and the health effects of smoking.  She also works to design and evaluate materials to correct these misperceptions and promote behavior change. 

Current projects that Dr. Bansal-Travers is working on include examining how smokers respond to different point-of-sale displays in the retail environment, as well as evaluating specific design characteristics and health warning labeling on tobacco packaging. She is also actively involved in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a longitudinal cohort study evaluating knowledge, beliefs and patterns of use of tobacco products among adults and youth in the U.S. Dr. Bansal-Travers also leads a tobacco-focused project, as part of the DSRIP Initiative with the Community Partners of WNY, aimed at decreasing unnecessary hospital admissions among Medicaid clients by promoting tobacco cessation.  She also conducts studies to evaluate various media campaigns and materials developed by the New York State Department of Health, the Erie-Niagara Tobacco-Free Coalition, and the New York State Smokers’ Quitline.

Credentials

Positions

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Associate Professor of Oncology
  • Department of Health Behavior

Background

Education and Training:

  • PhD (Epidemiology and Community Health) State University of New York at Buffalo
  • MS (Epidemiology) State University of New York at Buffalo
  • BS (Human Nutrition and Food Management) Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Research

Research Overview:

Dr. Bansal-Travers currently directs the Health Communications Testing Lab which focuses on testing materials including cigarette pack design variations, print messages, and television ads using Web surveys, focus groups, and eye-tracking methodology to help produce the most salient and effective health communications campaigns. Her research interests include exploring areas of misperceptions held by smokers about tobacco package design, warning labels, product characteristics, and the health effects of smoking. She also conducts focus groups to evaluate perceptions of novel tobacco products (including hookah and heat-not-burn products) and works to design and evaluate materials to correct these misperceptions and promote behavior change. Additionally, she created and maintains a comprehensive database of pack images and metadata for tobacco products sold in the US since 2003. Current projects she is working on include examining the effect of different characteristics of anti-secondhand smoke TV ads, misleading information on cigarette packs, and effective messages and pictures for health warning labels. She is currently conducting a study using mobile eye-tracking to evaluate how smokers attend to voluntary changes in tobacco point-of-sale displays in pharmacies. Dr. Bansal-Travers is also involved in the development and analysis of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a longitudinal cohort study of youth and adult tobacco users and non-users in the US, led by the FDA. 

Publications

Thrasher JF, Abad-Vivero EN, Huang L, O’Connor RJ, Hammond D, Bansal-Travers M, Yong H, Borland R, Markovsky B, Hardin J. Interpersonal communication about pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages: Policy-related influences and relationships with smoking cessation behavior. Social Science and Medicine [published online, doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.05.042].

Adkison S, Rees V, Bansal-Travers M, Hatsukami D, O’Connor RJ. Psychometric characteristics of the Brief Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives and tobacco dependence measures. Nicotine and Tobacco Research [published online, doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntv113].

Thrasher JF, Osman A, Abad EN, Hammond D, Bansal-Travers M, Cummings KM, Hardin JW, Moodie C. The use of cigarette package inserts to supplement pictorial health warnings: An evaluation of the Canadian policy. Nicotine and Tobacco Research [published online, doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntu246].

Thrasher JF, Osman A, Moodie C, Hammond D, Bansal-Travers M, Cummings KM, Borland R, Yong HH, Hardin J. Promoting cessation resources through cigarette package warning labels: A longitudinal survey with adult smokers in Canada, Australia, and Mexico. Tobacco Control [published online, doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2014-051589].

Li L, Borland R, Yong H, Cummings KM, Thrasher JF, Hitchman SC, Fong GT, Hammond D, Bansal-Travers M. Longer term impact of cigarette package warnings in Australia compared to the United Kingdom and Canada. Health Education Research [Published online, doi: 10.1093/her/cyu074].

Falcone M, Bansal-Travers M, Sanborn PM, Tang KZ, Strasser AA. Awareness of FDA-mandated cigarette packaging changes among smokers of “light” cigarettes. Health Education Research. 2015 Feb; 30(1): 81-6.

Swayampakala K, Thrasher JF, Hammond D, Yong HH, Bansal-Travers M, Krugman D, Brown A, Borland R, Hardin J. Pictorial health warning label content and smokers’ understanding of smoking-related risks—a cross country comparison. Health Education Research 2015 Feb; 30(1): 35-45.

Dhumal GG, Pednekar MS, Gupta PC, Sansone G, Quah ACK, Bansal-Travers M, Fong GT. Quit history, intentions to quit, and reasons for considering quitting among tobacco users in India: Findings from the Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation India Wave 1 Survey. Indian Journal of Cancer 2014 Dec; 51 Suppl 1: S39-45.

Kasza KA, Hyland AJ, Bansal-Travers M, Vogl L, Chen J, Evans S, Fong GT, Cummings KM, O’Connor RJ. Switching between menthol and non-menthol cigarettes: Findings from the International Tobacco Control Four Country Survey (ITC-4), US Cohort. Nicotine and Tobacco Research 2014 Sept; doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntu098.

Cornelius ME, Prommoh A, Fong GT, Hyland A, Driezen P, Chaloupka F, Hammond D, O’Connor RJ, Bansal-Travers M. The prevalence of brand switching among adult smokers in the USA, 2006-2011: Findings from the ITC US Surveys. Tobacco Control 2014 Mar; 23 Suppl 1: i48-53.

Kollath-Cattano C, Abad-Vivero EN, Thrasher JF, Bansal-Travers M, O’Connor RJ, Krugman D, Berg C, Hardin JW. Adult smokers’ responses to “corrective statements” regarding tobacco industry deception. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2014 Jul; 47(1): 26-36.

Bansal-Travers M, Fong GT, Quah ACK, Sansone G, Pednekar MS, Gupta PC, Raute LJ, Sinha DN. Factors related to awareness of tobacco advertising and promotion: Findings from the Tobacco Control Policy (TCP) India Pilot Survey. Journal for Epidemiology and Global Health 2014; 4: 303-313.

Kasza KA, Bansal-Travers M, O’Connor RJ, Compton WM, Kettermann A, Borek N, Fong GT, Cummings KM, Hyland AJ. Cigarette smokers’ use of unconventional tobacco products and associations with quitting activity: Findings from the International Tobacco Control Four Country Survey (ITC-4), US cohort. Nicotine and Tobacco Research 2014 Jun; 16(6): 672-81.

Fix BV, O’Connor RJ, Vogl L, Smith D, Bansal-Travers M, Conway KP, Ambrose B, Yang L, Hyland AJ. Patterns and Correlates of Polytobacco Use in the United States over a Decade: NSDUH 2002-2011. Addictive Behaviors 2014 Apr; 39(4): 768-81.

Rousu M, O’Connor RJ, Thrasher J, June K, Bansal-Travers M, Pitcavage J. The impact of product information and trials on demand for smokeless tobacco and cigarettes: Evidence from experimental auctions. Preventive Medicine 2014 Mar; 60: 3-9.

Adkison SE, Bansal-Travers M, O’Connor RJ, Hyland AJ, Smith D. Impact of smokeless tobacco packaging on perceptions and beliefs among youth, young adults, and adults in the U.S.: Findings from an internet-based cross-sectional survey. Harm Reduction Journal 2014 Jan 17; 11:2.

O’Connor RJ, June KM, Bansal-Travers M, Rousu MC, Thrasher JF, Hyland A, Cummings KM. Estimating demand for alternatives to cigarettes with online purchase tasks. Am J Health Behav 2014 Jan; 38(1): 103-13.

O’Connor RJ, Caruso R, Borland R, Cummings KM, Bansal-Travers M, Fix B, King B, Hammond D, Fong GT. Relationship of cigarette-related perceptions to cigarette design features: Findings from the 2009 ITC United States Survey. Nicotine and Tobacco Research 2013 Nov; 15(11): 1943-7.

Adkison SE, O’Connor RJ, Bansal-Travers M, Hyland A, Borland R, Yong HH, Cummings KM, McNeill A, Thrasher JF, Hammond D, Fong GT. Electronic nicotine delivery systems: International Tobacco Control Four Country Survey. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2013 Mar; 44(3): 207-215.

Kasza K, Hyland A, Borland R, McNeill A, Bansal-Travers M, Fix B, Hammond D, Fong GT, Cummings KM. Effectiveness of Stop-Smoking Medications: Findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey. Addiction 2013 Jan; 108(1): 193-202.

Surani NS, Gupta PC, Fong GT, Pednekar MS, Quah ACK, Bansal-Travers M. Intention to quit among Indian tobacco users: Findings from the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation India Pilot Survey. Indian Journal of Cancer 2012 Oct-Dec; 49: 431-437.

O'Connor RJ, Bansal-Travers M, Carter LP, Cummings KM. What would menthol smokers do if menthol in cigarettes were banned? Behavioral intentions and simulated demand. Addiction (Abingdon, England) 2012;107(7):1330-1338

Sansone GC, Raute LJ, Fong GT, Pednekar MS, Quah ACK, Bansal-Travers M, Gupta PC, Sinha DN. Knowledge of health effects and intentions to quit among smokers in India: findings from the Tobacco Control Policy (TCP) India pilot survey. International journal of environmental research and public health 2012; 9(2):564-578

Hitchman SC, Fong GT, Zanna MP, Hyland A, Bansal-Travers M. Support and correlates of support for banning smoking in cars with children: findings from the ITC Four Country Survey. European journal of public health 2011;21(3):360-365

Bansal-Travers M, O'Connor R, Fix BV, Cummings KM. What do cigarette pack colors communicate to smokers in the U.S.? . American journal of preventive medicine 2011; 40(6):683-689

Raute LJ, Sansone G, Pednekar MS, Fong GT, Gupta PC, Quah AC, Bansal-Travers M, Sinha DN. Knowledge of health effects and intentions to quit among smokeless tobacco users in India: findings from the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation (ITC) India Pilot Survey. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP 2011; 12(5):1233-1238

Bansal-Travers M, Hammond D, Smith P, Cummings KM. The impact of cigarette pack design, descriptors, and warning labels on risk perception in the U.S. American journal of preventive medicine 2011; 40(6):674-682

O'Connor RJ, Norton KJ, Bansal-Travers M, Mahoney MC, Cummings KM, Borland R. US smokers' reactions to a brief trial of oral nicotine products. Harm reduction journal 2011; 8(1):1

Smith P, Bansal-Travers M, O'Connor R, Brown A, Banthin C, Guardino-Colket S, Cummings KM. Correcting over 50 years of tobacco industry misinformation.American journal of preventive medicine 2011; 40(6):690-698

Kaufman AR, Waters EA, Parascandola M, Augustson EM, Bansal-Travers M, Hyland A, Cummings KM. Food and drug administration evaluation and cigarette smoking risk perceptions. American journal of health behavior 2011;35(6):766-776

Hammond D, Doxey J, Daniel S, Bansal-travers M. Impact of female-oriented cigarette packaging in the United States. Nicotine and tobacco research 2011;13(7):579-588

Li L , Zanna MP , Omar M , Sirirassamee B , Quah ACK , Bansal-travers M , Fong GT , Yong H , Borland R , Fotuhi O. Predictors of smoking cessation among adult smokers in Malaysia and Thailand: findings from the International Tobacco Control Southeast Asia Survey. Nicotine and tobacco research 2010;12(Suppl. 1):S34-S44

Bansal-Travers M, Cummings KM, Hyland A, Brown A, Celestino P. Educating smokers about their cigarettes and nicotine medications. Health education research 2010; 25(4):678-686

King B, Hammond D, Lee WB, Elton-Marshall T, Bansal-Travers M, O'Connor RJ, Hamann S, Sirirassamee B, Ahmad AA, Omar M, Borland R, Yong HH, Thrasher J. Malaysian and Thai smokers' beliefs about the harmfulness of 'light' and menthol cigarettes. Tobacco control 2010; 19(6):444-450

Hyland A, Higbee C, Travers MJ, Van Deusen A, Bansal-Travers M, King B, Cummings KM. Smoke-free homes and smoking cessation and relapse in a longitudinal population of adults. Nicotine and tobacco research 2009;11(6):614-618