How did beliefs and perceptions about e-cigarettes change after national news coverage of the EVALI outbreak?

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read Online Read More Add to Saved list
  • Author(s): Morgan JC;Morgan JC; Silver N; Silver N; Cappella JN; Cappella JN
  • Source:
    PloS one [PLoS One] 2021 Apr 30; Vol. 16 (4), pp. e0250908. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Apr 30 (Print Publication: 2021).
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Public Library of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101285081 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1932-6203 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 19326203 NLM ISO Abbreviation: PLoS One Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science
    • Subject Terms:
      Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*; Disease Outbreaks/*statistics & numerical data ; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems/*statistics & numerical data ; Lung Injury/*epidemiology ; Mass Media/*statistics & numerical data ; Tobacco Products/*adverse effects ; Vaping/*adverse effects; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Injury/pathology ; Lung Injury/psychology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perception ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; United States/epidemiology ; Vaping/psychology
    • Abstract:
      Introduction: Exposure to media content can shape public opinions about tobacco. In early September 2019, the outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) became headline news in the United States.
      Methods: In August and September 2019, we conducted two cross-sectional online surveys with current and former smokers assessing attitudes and beliefs about e-cigarettes. Study one (n = 865) was collected before the EVALI outbreak was widely covered and study two (n = 344) was collected after the outbreak had become nation-wide news. We examined differences in perceptions and beliefs between time points.
      Results: E-cigarette harm perceptions increased between study one (mean = 2.67) and study two (mean = 2.90, p < .05). Ever-users of e-cigarettes largely account for this change. Endorsement of the belief that e-cigarettes were risky and more likely to cause lung damage compared to cigarettes increased between studies (p < .05). Seventy eight percent of participants at study two were aware of the vaping illness story. Being aware of the story was associated with more endorsement of the belief that e-cigarettes were risky to use, but not that using e-cigarettes would make the participant more likely to get damaged lungs.
      Discussion: When the stories about the health and safety of tobacco products dominate the public information environment, it presents an opportunity to change beliefs that are frequently targeted by paid health campaigns. Changes in participant's perceptions of e-cigarettes were associated with coverage of this large news story, underscoring the importance of working to ensure that coverage is a scientifically accurate as possible.
      Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
    • References:
      Tob Control. 2018 Nov;27(Suppl 1):s62-s69. (PMID: 30158212)
      Health Educ J. 2017 Dec;76(8):971-985. (PMID: 38974785)
      Nicotine Tob Res. 2018 Sep 25;20(11):1317-1326. (PMID: 29059364)
      Arch Intern Med. 2003 Jul 14;163(13):1601-5. (PMID: 12860585)
      Am J Public Health. 2012 Sep;102(9):1758-66. (PMID: 22813087)
      Am J Public Health. 2012 Nov;102(11):2088-93. (PMID: 22813086)
      N Engl J Med. 2020 Mar 5;382(10):903-916. (PMID: 31491072)
      N Engl J Med. 2020 Feb 20;382(8):689-691. (PMID: 31951683)
      Tob Control. 2014 Sep;23(5):375-84. (PMID: 24259045)
      J Health Polit Policy Law. 2003 Oct;28(5):927-50. (PMID: 14604217)
      Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 12;18(2):. (PMID: 33445525)
      Health Commun. 2008 Jul;23(4):380-90. (PMID: 18702002)
      MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016 Nov 11;65(44):1205-1211. (PMID: 27832052)
      Breast Cancer Res. 2014 Sep 19;16(5):442. (PMID: 25510853)
      Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016 Jan 1;158:67-75. (PMID: 26621550)
      J Health Commun. 2006;11(1):21-42. (PMID: 16546917)
      Am J Prev Med. 2014 Feb;46(2):175-8. (PMID: 24439352)
      Psychol Health. 2015;30(12):1450-69. (PMID: 26074148)
      Tob Control. 2021 Sep;30(5):578-582. (PMID: 33051278)
      J Health Commun. 2003 May-Jun;8(3):249-65. (PMID: 12857654)
      JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Nov 1;2(11):e1915680. (PMID: 31747029)
      BMJ Open. 2015 Mar 26;5(3):e007134. (PMID: 25814497)
    • Grant Information:
      U54 CA229973 United States CA NCI NIH HHS
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20210430 Date Completed: 20211020 Latest Revision: 20240809
    • Publication Date:
      20240809
    • Accession Number:
      PMC8087005
    • Accession Number:
      10.1371/journal.pone.0250908
    • Accession Number:
      33930093