Annice E Kim1, Brett Loomis1, Bryan Rhodes2, Matthew E Eggers3, Christopher Liedtke1, Lauren Porter4. 1. Public Health Policy Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. 2. Digital Technology and Society Program, Survey Research Division, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. 3. Primary Prevention Research and Evaluation Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA. 4. Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although the overall impact of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) on public health is unclear, awareness, use, and marketing of the products have increased markedly in recent years. Identifying the increasing number of 'vape stores' that specialise in selling ENDS can be challenging given the lack of regulatory policies and licensing. This study assesses the utility of online search methods in identifying ENDS vape stores. METHODS: We conducted online searches in Google Maps, Yelp, and YellowPages to identify listings of ENDS vape stores in Florida, and used a crowdsourcing platform to call and verify stores that primarily sold ENDS to consumers. We compared store listings generated from the online search and crowdsourcing methodology to list licensed tobacco and ENDS retailers from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. RESULTS: The combined results from all three online sources yielded a total of 403 ENDS vape stores. Nearly 32.5% of these stores were on the state tobacco licensure list, while 67.5% were not. Accuracy of online results was highest for Yelp (77.6%), followed by YellowPages (77.1%) and Google (53.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Using the online search methodology we identified more ENDS vape stores than were on the state tobacco licensure list. This approach may be a promising strategy to identify and track the growth of ENDS vape stores over time, especially in states without a systematic licensing requirement for such stores. 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: Although the overall impact of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) on public health is unclear, awareness, use, and marketing of the products have increased markedly in recent years. Identifying the increasing number of 'vape stores' that specialise in selling ENDS can be challenging given the lack of regulatory policies and licensing. This study assesses the utility of online search methods in identifying ENDS vape stores. METHODS: We conducted online searches in Google Maps, Yelp, and YellowPages to identify listings of ENDS vape stores in Florida, and used a crowdsourcing platform to call and verify stores that primarily sold ENDS to consumers. We compared store listings generated from the online search and crowdsourcing methodology to list licensed tobacco and ENDS retailers from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. RESULTS: The combined results from all three online sources yielded a total of 403 ENDS vape stores. Nearly 32.5% of these stores were on the state tobacco licensure list, while 67.5% were not. Accuracy of online results was highest for Yelp (77.6%), followed by YellowPages (77.1%) and Google (53.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Using the online search methodology we identified more ENDS vape stores than were on the state tobacco licensure list. This approach may be a promising strategy to identify and track the growth of ENDS vape stores over time, especially in states without a systematic licensing requirement for such stores. 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: Taghrid Asfar; Ziyad Ben Taleb; Olatokunbo Osibogun; Estefania C Ruano-Herreria; Danielle Sierra; Kenneth D Ward; Ramzi G Salloum; Wasim Maziak Journal: Subst Use Misuse Date: 2018-11-15 Impact factor: 2.164
Authors: Pratibha Nayak; Dianne C Barker; Jidong Huang; Catherine B Kemp; Theodore L Wagener; Frank Chaloupka Journal: Health Educ Res Date: 2018-04-01
Authors: Georgiana Bostean; Catherine M Crespi; Patsornkarn Vorapharuek; William J McCarthy Journal: Health Place Date: 2016-10-19 Impact factor: 4.078
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
Authors: Paul T Harrell; Syeda Mahrukh Hussnain Naqvi; Andrew D Plunk; Ming Ji; Silvia S Martins Journal: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse Date: 2016-09-26 Impact factor: 3.829
Authors: Carla J Berg; Dianne C Barker; Christina Meyers; Amber Weber; Amy J Park; Akilah Patterson; Sarah Dorvil; Robert T Fairman; Jidong Huang; Steve Sussman; Melvin D Livingston; Theodore L Wagener; Rashelle B Hayes; Kim Pulvers; Betelihem Getachew; Nina Schleicher; Lisa Henriksen Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2021-02-16 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Dianne C Barker; Lisa Henriksen; David H Voelker; Amna Ali; Ilana G Raskind; Nina C Schleicher; Trent O Johnson; Carla J Berg Journal: Prev Med Rep Date: 2021-05-30