TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptions of alternative tobacco products, anti-tobacco media, and tobacco regulation among young adults
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - Getachew, Betelihem
AU - Payne, Jackelyn B.
AU - Vu, Milkie
AU - Pillai, Drishti
AU - Shah, Jill
AU - Levine, Hagai
AU - Berg, Carla J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the National Cancer Institute (1R01CA179422-01; PI: Berg). The funders had no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 University of Alberta. All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/7
Y1 - 2018/7
N2 - Objectives: With increased alternative tobacco product (ATP) use and lagging public health action, we explored perceptions of ATPs, anti-tobacco messaging, and tobacco regulation among young adults. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 60 Georgia college students aged 18-25 using: (1) cigarettes, little cigars/cigarillos (LCCs), smokeless tobacco, or e-cigarettes ≥15 days of the past 30; or (2) hookah ≥10 of the past 30 days (due to lower frequency of use). Of 99 participants recruited, 80 consented, and 60 participated. Results: Participants were on average 21.01 years old (SD = 2.07), 56.7% women, and 65.0% black; 56.7% reported current use of cigarettes, 43.3% LCCs, 26.7% smokeless tobacco, 45.0% e-cigarettes, and 41.7% hookah. Cigarettes were perceived as most harmful to health and most addictive. E-cigarettes and hookah were generally regarded as lowest risk. Many indicated that ATP risk information was limited or inaccessible and that most anti-tobacco campaigns were irrelevant to ATPs. Participants requested more research and dissemination of evidence regarding ATP risks and need for ATP regulation. Conclusions: In light of low risk perceptions regarding ATPs among young adults, research, anti-tobacco campaigns, and regulation must address their known and potential risks.
AB - Objectives: With increased alternative tobacco product (ATP) use and lagging public health action, we explored perceptions of ATPs, anti-tobacco messaging, and tobacco regulation among young adults. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 60 Georgia college students aged 18-25 using: (1) cigarettes, little cigars/cigarillos (LCCs), smokeless tobacco, or e-cigarettes ≥15 days of the past 30; or (2) hookah ≥10 of the past 30 days (due to lower frequency of use). Of 99 participants recruited, 80 consented, and 60 participated. Results: Participants were on average 21.01 years old (SD = 2.07), 56.7% women, and 65.0% black; 56.7% reported current use of cigarettes, 43.3% LCCs, 26.7% smokeless tobacco, 45.0% e-cigarettes, and 41.7% hookah. Cigarettes were perceived as most harmful to health and most addictive. E-cigarettes and hookah were generally regarded as lowest risk. Many indicated that ATP risk information was limited or inaccessible and that most anti-tobacco campaigns were irrelevant to ATPs. Participants requested more research and dissemination of evidence regarding ATP risks and need for ATP regulation. Conclusions: In light of low risk perceptions regarding ATPs among young adults, research, anti-tobacco campaigns, and regulation must address their known and potential risks.
KW - Electronic cigarettes
KW - Risk factors
KW - Risk perceptions
KW - Tobacco use
KW - Young adults
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U2 - 10.5993/AJHB.42.4.11
DO - 10.5993/AJHB.42.4.11
M3 - Article
C2 - 29973316
AN - SCOPUS:85049843065
SN - 1087-3244
VL - 42
SP - 118
EP - 130
JO - American Journal of Health Behavior
JF - American Journal of Health Behavior
IS - 4
ER -
