Perceived Comparative harm of Cigarettes and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems.

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research study examining perceived comparative harm of cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) among US adults. It highlights changes in risk perceptions after a year marked by intense public debate and regulatory efforts to restrict youth access to ENDS. The study's findings are crucial for understanding public opinion trends and informing regulatory measures related to these products.

Key Points:

* The study is based on data from the Tobacco Products and Risk Perceptions Surveys conducted in 2017 and 2018.
* The surveys are annual cross-sectional studies of a probability sample and a representative oversample of pre-identified cigarette smokers drawn from KnowledgePanel, a web panel designed to be representative of non-institutionalized US adults.
* The study measures comparative perceived harm of ENDS vs cigarettes, asked of those aware of ENDS, with response options ranging from much less harmful to much more harmful.
* Between 2017 and 2018, the percentage of US adults who perceived ENDS to be less harmful than cigarettes decreased.
* During the same period, the proportion of US adults who perceived ENDS to be more or much more harmful than cigarettes increased.
* Perceived harm of ENDS increased among current and former smokers.
* The increase in perceived risk of ENDS from 2017 to 2018 may be associated with media coverage and political and regulatory responses to the rise in youth ENDS use in 2018.

Main Message:
This study demonstrates a shift in perceived comparative harm of cigarettes and ENDS among US adults, with an increasing number of people viewing ENDS as equally or more harmful than cigarettes. This trend is particularly noticeable among cigarette smokers, which may influence their decision to try or switch to ENDS use. The findings suggest that continuous monitoring of comparative risk perceptions is warranted, especially given the recent surge in reported cases of lung illness associated with vaping and the rapidly evolving evidence. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding public opinion trends in shaping regulatory measures related to these products.

Nyman aL, huang J, Weaver SR, Eriksen MP. Perceived Comparative harm of Cigarettes and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems. JaMa network open. 2019;2(11):1. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.15680