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

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.

Over 1 year later: smokers’ EVALI awareness, knowledge and perceived impact on e-cigarette interest

“…Studies in the USA and elsewhere have documented increases in e-cigarette harm perceptions after the EVALI outbreak 9–14. However, limited research has focused on knowledge of EVALI itself or EVALI’s impact on smokers’ e-cigarette perceptions and intentions.…”

Changing patterns of cigarette and ENDS transitions in the USA: a multistate transition analysis of adults in the PATH Study in 2017–2019 vs 2019–2021

“…8 Although the injuries are now thought to largely be associated with the use of vitamin E acetate as a diluent for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) containing liquids, early CDC reports suggested nicotine vaping as the cause. 8,34 The consequent emphasis on dangers of vaping in US news resulted in more negative public perceptions of ENDS use and more of the public discourse focusing on their potential dangers to youth, [35][36][37][38][39] in contrast to countries like the UK, where there has been more emphasis on ENDS' potential benefits for adults. 40,41 Additionally, in the US, many states and localities enacted restrictions or bans on flavored ENDS sales in 2020 and 2021.…”

A Text-Mining Analysis to Examine Dominant Sources of Online Information and Content on Continuous Glucose Monitors

“… 59 , 60 Studies have shown increased news coverage to impact public perceptions on health behaviors, like changes in harm perceptions related to e-cigarette use. 61 Recent research is indicating that reporting of health policy has been framed to focus on politics and partisanship instead of policies or their potential impacts. For example, a study on news coverage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) found that the most common sources of news provided little public-health-relevant substance about the ACA even after its implementation.…”