Summary
Introduction:
This text summarizes a study examining the relationship between youth exposure to e-cigarette marketing and e-cigarette use behavior change one year later. The study uses data from the Population assessment of Tobacco and health (PaTh) Study and controlled for socio-demographic factors and established e-cigarette use risk factors.
Key Points:
* The study found that recalled exposure to e-cigarette marketing was associated with reduced e-cigarette harm perception and ever and current use at follow-up.
* Exposure to marketing through websites/social media was associated with reduced harm perceptions and all stages of e-cigarette use change, including regular use.
* The number of e-cigarette marketing channels that participants were exposed to was also associated with reduced harm perceptions and all stages of e-cigarette use change.
* The frequently recalled channels of e-cigarette marketing exposure were retail stores, television, and websites/social media.
* Exposure to e-cigarette marketing via television, websites/social media, billboards, and newspapers/magazines was significantly associated with e-cigarette ever use within one year.
* Exposure to marketing through websites/social media stood out with significant associations with all three e-cigarette use behaviors examined in the study.
* E-cigarette marketing exposure was associated with youth's reduced e-cigarette harm perceptions over one year.
Main Message:
The study highlights the significant impact of e-cigarette marketing exposure on youth's e-cigarette use behavior change and reduced harm perceptions. The results suggest that restrictions on e-cigarette marketing, particularly through websites/social media, could help prevent youth e-cigarette use. It is essential to continue researching the specific e-cigarette marketing features that contribute to the appeal of e-cigarette products and inform regulatory policies to protect youth and have an optimal net population health impact.
Citation
Stanton Ca, Pasch KE, Pericot-Valverde I, et al. Longitudinal associations between U.S. youth exposure to E-cigarette marketing and E-cigarette use harm perception and behavior change. Preventive medicine. 2022;164:107266. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107266
