Olivia A Wackowski1, Cristine D Delnevo1. 1. Department of Health Education & Behavioral Science, Center for Tobacco Studies, Rutgers School of Public Health, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In April 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a rule to extend its tobacco regulatory authority to e-cigarettes, which have been unregulated and growing in use since their 2006-2007 US introduction. The FDA will issue a final rule based on comments and data received from researchers, tobacco companies and the public. We aimed to present data about current smokers' awareness of and attitudes towards potential e-cigarette regulation and various policies in the USA. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online e-cigarette focused survey of 519 adult current smokers in April 2014, before the FDA's proposed rule was announced. Participants were recruited from a private research panel (GFK's Knowledge Networks) designed to be representative of the US population. RESULTS: The majority of respondents (62.5%) did not know that e-cigarettes are unregulated by the FDA but agreed that e-cigarettes should be regulated by the FDA for safety and quality (83.5%), carry warning labels about their potential risks (86.6%) and have the same legal age of sale as other tobacco (87.7%). Support was similarly high among current e-cigarette users. Support was substantial though lower overall for policies to restrict e-cigarette indoor use (41.2%), flavouring (44.3%) and advertising (55.5%), and was negatively associated with current e-cigarette use. CONCLUSIONS: Support for many e-cigarette regulatory policies is strong among smokers, including for policies that the FDA has recently proposed and potential future regulations. States considering indoor e-cigarette restrictions should know that a substantial number of current smokers support such regulations. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
BACKGROUND: In April 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a rule to extend its tobacco regulatory authority to e-cigarettes, which have been unregulated and growing in use since their 2006-2007 US introduction. The FDA will issue a final rule based on comments and data received from researchers, tobacco companies and the public. We aimed to present data about current smokers' awareness of and attitudes towards potential e-cigarette regulation and various policies in the USA. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online e-cigarette focused survey of 519 adult current smokers in April 2014, before the FDA's proposed rule was announced. Participants were recruited from a private research panel (GFK's Knowledge Networks) designed to be representative of the US population. RESULTS: The majority of respondents (62.5%) did not know that e-cigarettes are unregulated by the FDA but agreed that e-cigarettes should be regulated by the FDA for safety and quality (83.5%), carry warning labels about their potential risks (86.6%) and have the same legal age of sale as other tobacco (87.7%). Support was similarly high among current e-cigarette users. Support was substantial though lower overall for policies to restrict e-cigarette indoor use (41.2%), flavouring (44.3%) and advertising (55.5%), and was negatively associated with current e-cigarette use. CONCLUSIONS: Support for many e-cigarette regulatory policies is strong among smokers, including for policies that the FDA has recently proposed and potential future regulations. States considering indoor e-cigarette restrictions should know that a substantial number of current smokers support such regulations. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/
Authors: Hao Tang; David W Cowling; Jon C Lloyd; Todd Rogers; Kristi L Koumjian; Colleen M Stevens; Dileep G Bal Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2003-04 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: R Borland; H-H Yong; M Siahpush; A Hyland; S Campbell; G Hastings; K M Cummings; G T Fong Journal: Tob Control Date: 2006-06 Impact factor: 7.552
Authors: Thomas F Northrup; Peyton Jacob; Neal L Benowitz; Eunha Hoh; Penelope J E Quintana; Melbourne F Hovell; Georg E Matt; Angela L Stotts Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2016 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Janet Chung-Hall; Geoffrey T Fong; Gang Meng; Lorraine V Craig; Ann McNeill; Sara C Hitchman; Esteve Fernández; Ute Mons; Antigona C Trofor; Krzysztof Przewoźniak; Witold A Zatoński; Tibor Demjén; Paraskevi A Katsaounou; Christina N Kyriakos; Constantine I Vardavas Journal: Eur J Public Health Date: 2020-07-01 Impact factor: 3.367
Authors: Daniel Owusu; Rachel Lawley; Bo Yang; Katherine Henderson; Brittaney Bethea; Christopher LaRose; Sam Stallworth; Lucy Popova Journal: Tob Control Date: 2019-04-30 Impact factor: 7.552
Authors: Allison M Glasser; Lauren Collins; Jennifer L Pearson; Haneen Abudayyeh; Raymond S Niaura; David B Abrams; Andrea C Villanti Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2016-11-30 Impact factor: 5.043