high School Youth and E-cigarettes: The Influence of Modified Risk Statements and Flavors on E-cigarette Packaging.

Introduction:
In this text, you will learn about a study examining the influence of e-cigarette package elements on high school youth's perceptions and intentions to use e-cigarettes. The study used the heuristic Systematic Model (hSM) to predict the persuasive processes associated with the e-cigarette packaging elements.

Key Points:

* The study used an experimental design with 715 high school students who viewed different combinations of warning label text, modified risk statements (MRS), and flavors on e-cigarette packages.
* Participants who viewed an MRS with any of the warning labels were more likely to engage in counterarguing, which increased risk perceptions.
* The greater youth perceived the risks associated with e-cigarettes, the lower their intentions of using them, even if they had tried an e-cigarette in the past.
* The study found that the FDa e-cigarette warning label was effective in reducing intentions to use e-cigarettes.
* Including an MRS alongside the warning label led to both systematic and heuristic processing depending on the individual.
* Flavor images on the package were often processed heuristically and led to ambiguity.
* The study suggests that tobacco education for high school students should focus on increasing risk perceptions and encouraging youth to evaluate tobacco industry messages critically.

Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of e-cigarette package elements in influencing high school youth's perceptions and intentions to use e-cigarettes. The findings suggest that including MRS alongside warning labels can increase counterarguing and risk perceptions, while flavors can lead to ambiguity. The study emphasizes the need for tobacco education and public health messages that encourage youth to evaluate tobacco industry messages critically and increase awareness of the risks associated with e-cigarette use. By doing so, youth can make informed decisions about using e-cigarettes, ultimately reducing their intentions to use them.

Katz SJ, Shi W, Erkkinen M, Lindgren B, hatsukami D. high School Youth and E-cigarettes: The Influence of Modified Risk Statements and Flavors on E-cigarette Packaging. american journal of health behavior. 2020;44(2):130-145. doi:10.5993/aJhB.44.2.2