Influence of Electronic Cigarette Characteristics on Susceptibility, Perceptions, and Abuse Liability Indices among Combustible Tobacco Cigarette Smokers and Non-Smokers

Cosima Hoetger, Rose S. Bono, Nicole E. Nicksic, Andrew J. Barnes and Caroline O. Cobb
Additional contact information
Cosima Hoetger: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23284, USA
Rose S. Bono: Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, 830 E Main St, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
Nicole E. Nicksic: Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, 830 E Main St, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
Andrew J. Barnes: Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, 830 E Main St, Richmond, VA 23219, USA
Caroline O. Cobb: Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 806 W Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23284, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: This study assessed how electronic cigarette (ECIG) characteristics amenable to regulation—namely nicotine content, flavor, and modified risk messages—impact ECIG use susceptibility, harm/addiction perceptions, and abuse liability indices among combustible tobacco cigarette (CTC) smokers and non-smokers. CTC smokers and non-smokers varying in ECIG use recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) completed an online survey in 2016 (analytic n = 706). Participants were randomly assigned to one of eight conditions differing in ECIG characteristics: nicotine content (no, low, high), flavor (menthol, tobacco, fruit), or modified risk message (reduced harm, reduced carcinogen exposure). Regressions assessed ECIG susceptibility, harm/addiction perceptions, and abuse liability indices (purchase task measures of breakpoint/intensity) within each regulatory domain (nicotine content, flavor, message) and their interactions with CTC/ECIG status. Differential effects on ECIG susceptibility, harm/addiction perceptions, and abuse liability indices were observed by regulatory domain with many effects moderated by CTC/ECIG status. ECIG nicotine content and flavor conditions were the most influential across outcomes. Greater nicotine content, tobacco-flavored and reduced carcinogen exposure ECIGs were more highly preferred by CTC smokers with some differing preferences for non-users. Findings reinforce consideration of discrete ECIG preferences across tobacco use status to improve regulatory efficacy.

Keywords: electronic cigarette; flavors; policy; purchase task; risk perceptions; tobacco regulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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