Prevalence and correlates of flavored novel oral nicotine product use among a national sample of youth.

BACKGROUND: Flavored novel oral nicotine products (ONP), such as pouches, gum, lozenges, tablets, and gummies, have recently entered the US market but have not been authorized for smoking cessation. This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of ONPs in a national sample of youth who smoked little filtered cigars or cigarillos (LCCs) or were susceptible to LCCs. METHODS: We conducted a national online survey from September-October 2022, as part of a study to develop cigar warnings among youth. Those aged 15-20 years old who reported using (ever or current) or susceptibility to little filtered cigars or cigarillos (LCCs) were eligible. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analyses assessed the prevalence of flavored ONP use and associations with other past 30-day tobacco product use and participant characteristics. RESULTS: Approximately one-fifth (17.1 %) of the sample (n = 680) reported past month flavored ONP use. Any past month tobacco use was correlated with past month flavored ONP use (ps < 0.001), increasing from 17.1 % in the overall sample to 26.8 % among those reporting e-cigarette use, 41.4 % (LCCs), 47.8 % (waterpipe tobacco), 61.8 % (large cigars), and 69.1 % (smokeless tobacco). The number of products used in the past month was significantly associated with higher odds of ONPs in the past month in a multivariable logistic regression model (aOR2.26; 95 % CI: 1.92, 2.65). DISCUSSION: Almost one-fifth of participants who use or are susceptible to cigar use in our national sample of youth use ONPs. Dual/poly use of other tobacco products and ONPs among youth suggests that many of these youth may be addicted to nicotine. Additional surveillance and regulation of ONPs that exhibit enticing characteristics, such as flavors, kid-friendly formulations, and targeted marketing/branding may be needed.

Qualitative perspective on nicotine pouches from adults who smoke cigarettes in North Carolina.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how nicotine pouch products are perceived by people who smoke, including if they are perceived as a cessation aid or a substitute for when they cannot smoke. We qualitatively investigated the reactions and perceptions about On!, a leading brand of nicotine pouches. METHODS: We conducted online semistructured interviews with 30 adults who smoke cigarettes. Participants viewed an On! brochure and an image of an opened nicotine pouch and were asked about their initial impression, who the intended user is, and how they thought of the product's safety compared with other tobacco and cessation products. Transcripts were independently coded and the data were analysed using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Among the participants, half identified as female and slightly more than half were white (n=16). The mean age was 43 years old. The following are the central themes that emerged: (1) participants perceived the concealability, flavours and packaging of On! as appealing to youth and young adults; (2) participants perceived nicotine pouches as a product that would supplement rather than replace tobacco use; and (3) the product raised health concerns, which decreased interest in trying nicotine pouches. CONCLUSIONS: Participants believed that the On! nicotine pouch promotional material may promote youth and young adult nicotine product initiation and dual product use for people who smoke. Most viewed On! as a product to use with cigarettes, rather than a way to quit cigarettes. Increased surveillance of nicotine pouches is warranted to monitor the trajectory of this emerging tobacco product and prevent youth initiation.

Perceived Effectiveness of Cigar Warnings in Discouraging Blunt Use.

INTRODUCTION: Many people remove the tobacco leaf from cigars and replace it with cannabis (ie, blunts), but few studies have examined whether messages about the risks of cigars, like warnings on cigar packages, can affect blunt use. METHODS: Participants were 438 U.S. adults who reported past 30-day cigar use and ever blunt use, recruited from a probability-based national panel to take an online survey. In a 2 × 2 experiment with a between-subjects design, we manipulated two cigar warning characteristics: (1) warning type: text-only versus pictorial (ie, text + image) and (2) warning size: 30% (smaller) versus 50% (larger) of the product package. Participants then viewed six different warnings on a fictious cigarillo package, within their randomly assigned condition. After evaluating all stimuli, participants were asked the extent to which the warnings discouraged them from wanting to use cigars to smoke cannabis (ie, blunt perceived warning effectiveness). Response options ranged from "not at all" (1) to "a great deal" (5). RESULTS: We observed no main effects of warning type or size on blunt perceived warning effectiveness. However, a significant interaction existed between the two experimental manipulations (p = .009). Whereas adding images made no difference to blunt perceived warning effectiveness when warnings were smaller (simple effect: -0.22, p = .28), images mattered for larger warnings. Specifically, adding images increased blunt perceived warning effectiveness when warnings were 50% of the product package (simple effect: 0.52, p = .008). CONCLUSIONS: This experiment provides preliminary evidence that larger pictorial cigar warnings may discourage blunt use relative to larger but text-only warnings. IMPLICATIONS: Blunts, which are hollowed out cigars with tobacco leaf wrappers that are filled with cannabis leaf, are one of the most common ways in which tobacco and cannabis are used simultaneously, yet few studies have examined whether messages about the risks of cigars can affect blunt use. We conducted an online experiment concerning the perceived effectiveness of cigar warnings among people who use blunts recruited from a probability-based panel. Results provide novel, preliminary evidence that larger pictorial cigar warnings may discourage blunt use, relative to larger but text-only warnings. More research evaluating cigar warnings on blunt use is needed.

Improving Point-of-Sale Warnings for Single Cigars: Implications for Premium Cigars.

INTRODUCTION: For cigars sold individually without packaging, including many premium cigars, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed that retailers display six warning statements on a sign at the point-of-sale (POS). AIMS AND METHODS: To examine the potential effectiveness of cigar warning signs, we conducted a between-subjects online experiment. Participants were 809 U.S. adults who reported using cigars (78% ever large cigar use, 49% past 30-day large cigar use) recruited from a probability-based panel. Participants viewed an image of a cigar store countertop with randomization to one of four conditions: (1) no warning sign, (2) a sign with six FDA proposed text-only warnings, (3) a sign with six novel text-only warnings, or (4) a sign with six novel text + image warnings. We used analysis of variance (ANOVA) models and post hoc Tukey tests to examine the results. RESULTS: The FDA-proposed text-only warning sign was perceived as less effective in discouraging participants from smoking cigars (M: 3.26, SD: 1.39; scale range: 1-5, where five indicates higher discouragement) compared with the novel text-only warning sign (M = 3.38, SD = 1.40) and the novel text + image warning sign (M = 3.65, SD = 1.34). The novel text + image warning sign increased discouragement from smoking cigars versus the FDA-proposed text-only warning sign (p = .02) and decreased the perceived satisfaction of smoking cigars versus no warning sign (p = .04). In a sensitivity analysis, the novel text + image warning sign decreased the perceived satisfaction of smoking cigars (p = .01), decreased cigar purchase intentions (p = .03), decreased the urge to smoke (p = .03), and increased discouragement from smoking cigars (p = .006) compared with all other study conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Results provide new evidence that policymakers, such as the FDA, could use when proposing POS warning signs for cigars. IMPLICATIONS: The US FDA proposed that retailers display a warning sign at the POS for cigars sold individually without packaging. We conducted an online experiment concerning the potential effectiveness of this regulatory policy with people who use cigars recruited from a probability-based panel. Results provide the first evidence that the FDA-proposed text-only warning sign was perceived as less effective than other types of warning signs and that adding images could potentially increase the effectiveness of warning signs. These findings are particularly relevant for premium cigars, which are often sold individually in brick-and-mortar retail settings.

Perceived message effectiveness of cigar warning themes among adults in the United States.

Most tobacco warnings focus on health harms to the consumer, but other message themes may be promising. We assessed perceived message effectiveness (PME) among adults who smoke cigars for 12 cigar warning statements to discourage smoking, and measured PME across four message themes: explicit health effects to the consumer, secondhand smoke effects, chemicals/constituents, and toxicity. Between April 23 and May 7, 2020, we conducted an online study with U.S. adults who used any cigar type in the past 30 days (n = 777). Participants were randomly assigned to view two out of 12 warnings and rate each one on PME. We analyzed PME mean ratings (range 1 [low] to 5 [high]). The warning statements for lung cancer (M = 3.91) and heart disease (M = 3.77) had the highest PME ratings; secondhand smoke (M = 3.50) and formaldehyde (M = 3.48) had the lowest PME ratings. Multilevel analyses showed that the explicit health effects theme was associated with higher PME ratings compared to other warning themes (ps < 0.05 for chemicals/constituents and secondhand smoke effects) except toxicity (p =.16). Higher awareness of consequences was associated with higher PME ratings (p <.001). Higher nicotine dependence was also associated with higher PME ratings (p = .004). Warning statements with information addressing the themes of health harms and toxicity could potentially inform those who smoke cigars about the broader harms of cigar use and should be considered in FDA labeling regulations for cigars.

How do current tobacco warnings compare to the WHO FCTC guidelines: a content analysis of combustible tobacco warnings worldwide.

OBJECTIVE: Many countries have adopted warning labels for combustible tobacco products, yet little research exists describing tobacco warning characteristics globally and to what extent they meet the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) Guidelines. This study evaluates characteristics of combustible tobacco warnings. DESIGN: We conducted a content analysis to describe the overall landscape of warnings using descriptive statistics and compared to the WHO FCTC Guidelines. SETTING: We searched existing warning databases for combustible tobacco warnings from English-speaking countries. We compiled warnings meeting inclusion criteria and coded for message and image characteristics using a pre-defined codebook. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES MEASURES: Characteristics of combustible tobacco warning text statements and warning images were the primary study outcomes. There were no secondary study outcomes. RESULTS: We identified a total of 316 warnings from 26 countries or jurisdictions worldwide. Of these warnings, 94% included warning text and an image. Warning text statements most often described health effects to the respiratory (26%), circulatory (19%) and reproductive systems (19%). Cancer was the most frequently mentioned health topic (28%). Fewer than half of warnings included a Quitline resource (41%). Few warnings included messages about secondhand smoke (11%), addiction (6%) or cost (1%). Of warnings with images, most were in colour and showed people (88%), mostly adults (40%). More than 1 in 5 warnings with images included a smoking cue (ie, cigarette). CONCLUSIONS: While most tobacco warnings followed WHO FCTC guidance on effective tobacco warnings, such as communicating health risks and inclusion of images, many did not include local Quitline or cessation resources. A sizeable minority include smoking cues that could inhibit effectiveness. Full alignment with WHO FCTC guidelines will improve warnings and better achieve the WHO FCTC objectives.

The Impact of Cannabis Packaging Characteristics on Perceptions and Intentions.

INTRODUCTION: As cannabis increasingly becomes a consumer product in the U.S., its product packaging has become critically important to regulators. This study examined the influence of recreational cannabis packaging characteristics. METHODS: Five online between-subjects experiments were conducted in April 2021, and data were analyzed in May 2021-July 2021. Experiments randomized participants to view different (1) types of cannabis, (2) visual displays of tetrahydrocannabinol content, (3) cannabis packages designed around brand personality research, (4) health warnings, and (5) health claims. Outcomes included cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses. RESULTS: A total of 841 adults from the U.S. (49% male, 50% young adults, 44% White, 17% Hispanic) were included in the study. Edible gummies were perceived as healthier (ß=0.32, 95% CI=0.03, 0.62), less grown up (ß= -0.58, 95% CI= -0.86, -0.28), and more socially acceptable to consume (ß=0.30, 95% CI=0.01, 0.59) than cannabis concentrate in a medical dropper. Participants also had more interest in trying edible gummies (ß=1.33, 95% CI=1.04, 1.62) and trying a free sample (ß=1.30, 95% CI=1.01, 1.60) than trying cannabis concentrate. Cannabis packages with a helps-you-relax health claim elicited more happy (ß=0.34, 95% CI=0.04, 0.64) and good (ß=0.37, 95% CI=0.07, 0.67) feelings than cannabis packages without this claim. Minimal effects were found for visual displays of tetrahydrocannabinol content and health warnings. CONCLUSIONS: Edibles are a unique type of cannabis that should be given special consideration under state laws, and lawmakers should consider limiting and governing the use of both implicit and explicit health claims on recreational cannabis packages when implementing laws.

Reducing Misperceptions About Very Low Nicotine Content Cigarettes: Insights From Adults Who Smoke.

INTRODUCTION: Many people incorrectly think that very low nicotine content (VLNC) cigarettes are less carcinogenic than current cigarettes. This risk misperception by people who smoke could reduce motivation to quit under a nicotine reduction policy. We qualitatively examined perspectives on campaign messages designed to reduce misperceptions. AIMS AND METHODS: Adults who smoke from North Carolina participated in online interviews. After being introduced to the idea of a VLNC policy, participants were shown VLNC messages and asked about their perceptions on the clarity, understandability, persuasiveness, and meaning of the messages. We conducted a thematic content analysis of the transcripts. RESULTS: Thirty adults who smoke cigarettes participated (15 females, 13 males, 2 nonbinary) with a mean age of 43 years. Central themes that emerged were: (1) Confusion about the proposed VLNC cigarette policy affected how messages were interpreted; (2) Messages that promote self-efficacy for quitting rather than guilt or fear were better received; and (3) Direct and succinct messages were seen as more able to grab attention and inform people who smoke. Some participant concerns focused on whether VLNC cigarettes would relieve their nicotine cravings and whether they would need to smoke more VLNC cigarettes to feel satisfied. CONCLUSION: Campaign messages to educate the public about the harmful effects of smoking VLNC cigarettes may be more effective if people who smoke are informed about the policy's rationale to understand why nicotine is removed rather than the other harmful chemicals. Messages should also acknowledge the difficulty of quitting and be short and direct to capture attention. IMPLICATIONS: Adults who smoke have some confusion about nicotine reduction in cigarettes and this affects how they perceive potential communication campaign messages about the risk of smoking VLNC cigarettes. In our qualitative research, we found that adults who smoke prefer messages about VLNC cigarettes that acknowledge the challenge of quitting and that are direct and succinct. With further development, campaign messages may be able to reduce misperceptions about VLNC cigarettes and maximize the public health benefit of a nicotine reduction policy.

Communicating the risks of tobacco and alcohol co-use.

BACKGROUND: While tobacco and alcohol co-use is highly prevalent across the United States, little experimental research has examined ways to counter such dual use. We developed and tested messages about the risks of co-using tobacco and alcohol among adults who used a combustible tobacco product and drank alcohol within the 30 days. METHODS: In an online experiment, 1,300 participants were randomly assigned to read different messages about tobacco and alcohol co-use (e.g., Alcohol and tobacco cause throat cancer). Three between-subjects experiments manipulated the presence of: 1) a marker word (e.g., Warning), 2) text describing the symptoms of health effects and a quitting self-efficacy cue, and 3) an image depicting the health effect. Participants rated each message using a validated Perceived Message Effectiveness (PME) scale. We used independent samples t-tests to examine differences between experimental conditions. Results include effect sizes (Cohen's d) to compare standardized mean differences. RESULTS: Our sample was 64% male, 70% white, 23% Black, and 17% Hispanic/Latino with a mean age of 42.4 (SD = 16.4) years. Messages that described the symptoms of the health effect (d = 0.17, p = 0.002) and included an image (d = 0.11, p = 0.04) were rated significantly higher in PME compared with messages that did not describe symptoms and were text-only. We found no significant effects of a marker word or self-efficacy cue on PME. CONCLUSIONS: Messages that describe the symptoms of health effects and include text and images may be particularly effective for communicating the risks of tobacco and alcohol co-use and decreasing adverse health effects from co-use.

Impact of an e-cigarette tax on cigarette and e-cigarette use in a middle-income country: a study from Indonesia using a pre-post design.

OBJECTIVES: Indonesia implemented its first e-cigarette regulation in 2018, a 57% tax on the retail price of e-cigarette liquid (e-liquid), exceeding the 40% average tax on cigarettes. Economic research suggests that this tax could unintentionally increase cigarette smoking among dual users, but this has not been examined in a low-income or middle-income country. We therefore investigated the effects of the e-liquid tax among adults in Indonesia. DESIGN: Pre-post study. SETTING: Indonesia. PARTICIPANTS: Adults who currently used e-cigarettes and either currently or occasionally smoked cigarettes or recently quit were recruited using Facebook and Instagram ads. Our follow-up response rate was 79%. A final sample of 1039 adults participated. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: E-cigarette and cigarette use. RESULTS: Following the e-liquid tax, participants reported paying a 4.4% higher price for e-liquid (p=0.02). Participants also reported an average 0.5-day decrease in the number of days they used e-cigarettes in the past week (p<0.001), and the proportion of daily e-cigarette users decreased (75.9% to 63.6%; p<0.001). Overall, reported use of cigarettes also declined, on average, by nine cigarettes per week. Participants who reported decreasing their e-cigarette use had higher odds of reporting increasing their cigarette use rather than reporting no change (adjusted OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.95 to 4.59). Further, as participants reported using e-cigarettes less frequently, they reported using cigarettes more frequently (ß=-2.41, p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Following an e-liquid tax in Indonesia, prices of e-liquid increased slightly, e-cigarette and cigarette use declined, and people who reported decreasing their e-cigarette use reported increasing their cigarette use. To avoid encouraging cigarette use, a prudent approach would be to raise cigarette taxes concurrently with e-cigarette taxes.

Preferences for different features of ENDS products by tobacco product use: a latent class analysis.

BACKGROUND: From a public health perspective, electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS) use may be beneficial for some populations (e.g., smokers who fully switch to ENDS) but detrimental for others (e.g., nonsmokers). Understanding the importance placed on different ENDS product features by user groups can guide interventions and regulations. METHODS: Participants were US adults who had used ENDS at least once and from a convenience sample drawn from a market research software in 2016. Participants chose between 9 different ENDS product features (harms of use, general effects of use, use as a cessation aid, initial purchase price, monthly cost, nicotine content, flavor availability, device design, and modifiability). A latent class analysis (LCA) identified subgroups of feature preferences and examined differences between groups by socio-demographics and tobacco product use. RESULTS: Of the 636 participants, 81% were White, the median age was 42, and 65% were current cigarette smokers. The LCA identified a 4-class solution as the most appropriate model: (1) people with high nicotine dependence who preferred ENDS similar to combustible cigarettes, (2) people with moderate tobacco use who were interested in low nicotine ENDS (3) people who use ENDS and combustible tobacco who preferred lower price and flavored ENDS products, and (4) people who used ENDS predominantly, without a strong preference for any of the features presented. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco use classes were associated with differences in preferences for ENDS features. These findings can inform regulations to reduce ENDS use among specific groups of people who use ENDS products.

A Mixed Methods Approach to Improving Provider Counseling of Patients Who Vape.

Significance: Vaping is an epidemic among young people, but there is little guidance on how medical providers should counsel young adults about vaping. To address this gap, we examined how electronic health record (EHR) systems prompt providers to collect vaping data and interviewed young adults about vaping communications with providers and preferred information sources. Methods: In this mixed methods study, we used survey research methods to explore if prompts exist in EHR systems to guide discussions about vaping with youth seen in primary care. We collected primary care practice information about EHR prompts regarding e-cigarette use from 10 rural North Carolina practices from August 2020 through November 2020 and interviewed 17 young adults (age 18-21 years) who reviewed resources and provided their opinion on the resource's relevance for their age group. Interviews were stratified by vaping status, transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed. Results: Only 5 of 10 EHR systems included prompts to capture information about vaping and data capture was optional in all 5 cases. Of the 17 interviewees, 10 were female, 14 were White, 3 were non-White and the mean age was 19.6 years. Two central themes emerged. Young adults: 1) were open to confidential, non-confrontational interactions with trusted providers and supported the use of a 2-page resource/discussion guide, questionnaires about vaping, and other waiting room resources, and 2) wanted prevention and cessation resources to be age-appropriate, including medical facts from a trusted source, and to be disseminated via social media platforms used by young adults. Conclusions: We found a lack of EHR functionalities in screening for vaping status hindered patients from receiving counseling on use. Young adults report a willingness to communicate with and learn from trusted providers and to gain understanding from information accessed via social media.

Designing More Effective Cigar Warnings: An Experiment Among Adult Cigar Smokers.

INTRODUCTION: Little systematic evidence exists about the effectiveness of cigar warnings. This study examined the perceived message effectiveness (PME) of warning statements about different health consequences caused by cigars. PME is a validated self-report scale of how effectively a health message discourages smoking. AIMS AND METHODS: We conducted an online study from April to May 2020 with adults in the United States who used cigars in the past 30 days (n = 777). Participants were randomly assigned to view and rate PME (three items, range 1-5) for seven out of 37 text warning statements about different health consequences from cigar use. Linear mixed effects models evaluated the most effective warning characteristics (eg, type of health consequence), controlling for repeated measures and participant demographics. RESULTS: Analyses showed that health consequences about the cardiovascular system (B = 0.38), mouth (B = 0.40), other digestive (B = 0.45), respiratory system (B = 0.36), and early death (B = 0.36) were associated with higher PME scores than reproductive health consequences (all p values <.001). Similar results were found for these health consequences compared with addiction (all p values p < .001). We also observed that awareness of the health consequence was associated with higher PME scores (B = 0.19, p < .001) and length of the warning message (number of characters) was associated with lower PME scores (B = -0.007, p = .03). No differences were observed between cancer and noncancer health consequences (p = .27) or health consequences that used plain language versus medical jargon (p = .94). CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides new evidence about the perceived effectiveness of different cigar health warning statements and identifies features that may strengthen statements. IMPLICATIONS: Our study with cigar smokers from across the United States provides much-needed evidence concerning the perceived effectiveness of different cigar health warning statements and features that may strengthen such statements. Mandated cigar warnings in the United States could be strengthened by including health consequences that were perceived as more effective in our study (eg, early death), using health consequences that participants were aware of, and using short warning statements.

Youth Exposure to Warnings on Cigar, E-Cigarette, and Waterpipe Tobacco Packages.

INTRODUCTION: Studies of tobacco product warnings have focused primarily on the reach and effectiveness of cigarette warnings for adult smokers, whereas few observational studies have examined noncigarette tobacco product warnings among youth. METHODS: High school students from the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (n=10,094) reported the frequency of exposure to warnings on cigar, e-cigarette, and waterpipe tobacco packages and the perceived harm of occasionally using e-cigarettes and waterpipe tobacco. In 2020, results were analyzed for the entire sample and among subgroups, including never users, ever users, youth susceptible to using tobacco, and current users. RESULTS: Reported high exposure to warnings was highest for cigars (22.3%), followed by that for e-cigarettes (20.8%) and that for waterpipe tobacco (7.0%). Youth who were susceptible to using cigars (AOR=1.53, 95% CI=1.29, 1.82), who ever used cigars (AOR=4.32, 95% CI=3.57, 5.22), or who currently used cigars (AOR=8.90, 95% CI=6.95, 11.39) were more likely to report high exposure to cigar warnings than youth who never used cigars. Similar findings were observed for e-cigarette and waterpipe tobacco warnings. For youth who ever used e-cigarettes, high exposure to warnings was associated with higher odds of perceiving e-cigarettes as harmful for occasional product use (AOR=1.50, 95% CI=1.05, 2.15), and high exposure to waterpipe tobacco warnings was associated with higher odds of perceiving waterpipe tobacco as harmful (AOR=1.21, 95% CI=1.00, 1.45). CONCLUSIONS: Warnings on noncigarette tobacco products reach some youth at risk for using these products, but these warnings may need to be strengthened to further reduce their use.

Effect of Cigarette Constituent Messages With Engagement Text on Intention to Quit Smoking Among Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is required to communicate the risks of tobacco constituents to the public. Few studies have addressed how FDA media campaigns can effectively communicate about cigarette smoke constituents. Objective: To examine whether messages about cigarette smoke constituents are effective in reducing smoking intentions and behaviors among adults who smoke. Design, Setting, and Participants: This randomized clinical trial enrolled participants who were aged between 18 and 65 years, were English speakers, were living in the United States, and who smoked at least 100 cigarettes during their lifetime and now smoked every day or some days. Participants received daily messages via email for 15 days. Participants were randomized to 1 of 2 message conditions or a control group and reported their previous-day smoking behaviors daily. Follow-up surveys were conducted on days 16 and 32. Data were collected from June 2017 to April 2018 and analyzed from April to September 2018. Interventions: The 3 groups were (1) constituent plus engagement messages (eg, "Cigarette smoke contains arsenic. This causes heart damage.") that included the FDA as the source and engagement text (eg, "Within 3 months of quitting, your heart and lungs work better. Ready to be tobacco free? You can quit. For free nicotine replacement, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW"); (2) constituent-only messages that did not list the FDA as the source or include engagement text; and (3) a control condition with messages about littering cigarette butts. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the change in quit intentions (range, 1-4, with higher scores indicating stronger intentions) from pretest to day 16. Secondary outcome measures included daily smoking behaviors and quit attempts. Results: A total of 789 participants (mean [SD] age, 43.4 [12.9] years; 483 [61.2%] women; 578 [73.3%] White; 717 [90.9%] non-Hispanic) were included in the study. The mean (SD) quit intention score was 2.5 (0.9) at pretest. Mean (SE) change in quit intention score from pretest to day 16 was 0.19 (0.07) points higher in the constituent plus engagement condition than in the control condition (P = .005) and 0.23 (0.07) points higher in the constituent-only condition compared with the control condition (P = .001). Participant reports of cigarettes smoked, forgone, and butted out were similar across study conditions at baseline and did not differ significantly at days 16 and 32 across study conditions. Viewing more messages was associated with an estimated decrease of 0.15 (SE, 0.01) cigarettes smoked per day per message viewed overall across conditions. Conclusions and Relevance: To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal test of cigarette constituent campaign messages in a national sample of adults who currently smoke. Messages about cigarette smoke constituents, with or without engagement text and source information, increased participants' intentions to quit, lending support to FDA efforts to educate consumers about such constituents. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03339206.

Tobacco Quit Intentions and Behaviors among Cigar Smokers in the United States in Response to COVID-19.

Combustible tobacco users appear to be at greater risk for serious complications from COVID-19. This study examined cigar smokers' perceived risk of COVID-19, quit intentions, and behaviors during the current pandemic. We conducted an online study between 23 April 2020 to 7 May 2020, as part of an ongoing study examining perceptions of different health effects of cigars. All participants used cigars in the past 30 days (n = 777). Three-quarters of the sample (76.0%) perceived they had a higher risk of complications from COVID-19 compared to non-smokers. The majority of participants (70.8%) intended to quit in the next six months due to COVID-19, and almost half of the sample (46.5%) reported making a quit attempt since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Far more participants reported increasing their tobacco use since COVID-19 started (40.9%) vs. decreasing their tobacco use (17.8%). Black or African American participants, participants who reported using a quitline, and participants with higher COVID-19 risk perceptions had higher intentions to quit using tobacco due to COVID-19, and higher odds of making a quit attempt since COVID-19 started. More research is needed to understand how tobacco users are perceiving COVID-19 risks and changing their tobacco use behaviors.

Risk, Resilience, and Smoking in a National, Probability Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority Adults, 2017, USA.

Background. There are well-documented inequities in smoking between sexual and gender minority (SGM; e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender [LGBT]) and straight and cisgender people. However, there is less information about risk for and resilience against smoking among SGM people. Such information is critical for understanding etiology and developing interventions. Aims. To conduct a within-group assessment of risks and resiliencies relating to smoking status. Method. In 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey with a national, probability-based sample of SGM adults (N = 453). We assessed theory-informed risks (adverse childhood events, substance use-oriented social environment, mental distress, stigma, discrimination, social isolation, and identity concealment) and resiliencies (advertising skepticism, identity centrality, social support, and SGM community participation). We applied survey weights, standardized predictor variables, and fit logistic regression models predicting smoking status. We stratified by age and SGM identity. Results. Patterns of risk and resilience differ by age and identity. Effects were consistently in the same direction for all groups for participating in substance use-oriented social environments, pointing to a potential risk factor for all groups. Advertising skepticism and having people you can talk to about being LGBTQ were potential protective factors. Discussion. Intervention development should address risk and resilience that differs by SGM identity. Additionally, our findings suggest interventionists should consider theoretical frameworks beyond minority stress. Conclusion. While much of the literature has focused on the role of stress from stigma and discrimination in tobacco use, addressing social norms and bolstering protective factors may also be important in SGM-targeted interventions.

Public Understanding of Cigarette Smoke Chemicals: Longitudinal Study of US Adults and Adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: The US Food and Drug Administration has increased communication efforts that aim to raise public awareness of the harmful constituents (ie, chemicals) in cigarette smoke. We sought to investigate whether the public's awareness of these chemicals has increased in light of such efforts. METHODS: Participants were national probability samples of 11 322 US adults and adolescents recruited in 2014-2015 (wave 1) and 2016-2017 (wave 2). Cross-sectional telephone surveys assessed awareness of 24 cigarette smoke chemicals at both timepoints. RESULTS: The proportion of US adults aware of cigarette smoke chemicals did not differ between waves 1 and 2 (25% and 26%, p = .19). In contrast, awareness of chemicals among adolescents fell from 28% to 22% (p < .001), mostly due to lower awareness of carbon monoxide, arsenic, benzene, and four other chemicals. Belief that most of the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke come from burning the cigarette also fell from waves 1 to 2 (adults: 31% vs. 26%; adolescents: 47% vs. 41%, both ps < .05). Participants were more likely to be aware of cigarette smoke chemicals if they had been exposed to anti-smoking campaign advertisements (p < .05) or had previously sought chemical information (p < .05). Cigarette smoke chemical awareness did not differ between smokers and nonsmokers. CONCLUSION: Awareness of cigarette smoke chemicals remains low and unchanged among adults and decreased somewhat among adolescents. The association of chemical awareness with information exposure via campaigns and information seeking behavior is promising. More concerted communication efforts may be needed to increase public awareness of cigarette smoke chemicals, which could potentially discourage smoking. IMPLICATIONS: Awareness of the toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke may contribute to quitting. The US Food and Drug Administration is making efforts to increase public awareness of these chemicals. Two national surveys (2014-2017) found that chemical awareness was low among adults and adolescents. Although awareness did not change among adults, awareness among adolescents dropped over time. In addition, exposure to anti-smoking campaigns and chemical information seeking behavior were associated with higher awareness of chemicals in cigarette smoke. Campaigns and other efforts may be needed to increase awareness of cigarette smoke chemicals.

An Eye Tracking Study of Anti-Smoking Messages on Toxic Chemicals in Cigarettes.

The US Food and Drug Administration is tasked with communicating information to the public about the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. Our study used eye tracking method to test the effectiveness of messages about the harmful chemicals in cigarettes smoke among adult smokers. A sample size of 211 current cigarette smokers viewed four communication messages that included: Health effects of a chemical in cigarette smoke and an image depicting the health effect. The messages focused on arsenic, formaldehyde, uranium, and general health. Eye tracking recorded the length of time participants viewed the text and the image. After each message, the participants were asked about the messages' effectiveness in changing attitudes towards smoking. We analyzed the data using multilevel modeling, and of the 211 smokers, 59.7% were female, 36.5% were Black, and 21.3% had a high school degree or less. Compared to the general message, the messages about formaldehyde and uranium were more discouraging to smoking (p < 0.05). Messages about formaldehyde were more believable and made participants want to quit more than the general messages. Increasing message dose was significantly associated with discouraging participants from smoking and made participants want to quit (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that anti-smoking messages, containing chemical information, can successfully increase negative attitudes toward smoking cigarettes and potentially encourage quitting.

Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Health Warnings and Purchases: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Five U.S. states have proposed policies to require health warnings on sugar-sweetened beverages, but warnings' effects on actual purchase behavior remain uncertain. This study evaluated the impact of sugar-sweetened beverage health warnings on sugar-sweetened beverage purchases. STUDY DESIGN: Participants completed one study visit to a life-sized replica of a convenience store in North Carolina. Participants chose six items (two beverages, two foods, and two household products). One item was randomly selected for them to purchase and take home. Participants also completed a questionnaire. Researchers collected data in 2018 and conducted analyses in 2019. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Participants were a demographically diverse convenience sample of 400 adult sugar-sweetened beverage consumers (usual consumption ≥12 ounces/week). INTERVENTION: Research staff randomly assigned participants to a health warning arm (sugar-sweetened beverages in the store displayed a front-of-package health warning) or a control arm (sugar-sweetened beverages displayed a control label). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary trial outcome was sugar-sweetened beverage calories purchased. Secondary outcomes included reactions to trial labels (e.g., negative emotions) and sugar-sweetened beverage perceptions and attitudes (e.g., healthfulness). RESULTS: All 400 participants completed the trial and were included in analyses. Health warning arm participants were less likely to be Hispanic and to have overweight/obesity than control arm participants. In intent-to-treat analyses adjusting for Hispanic ethnicity and overweight/obesity, health warnings led to lower sugar-sweetened beverage purchases (adjusted difference, -31.4 calories; 95% CI= -57.9, -5.0). Unadjusted analyses yielded similar results (difference, -32.9 calories; 95% CI= -58.9, -7.0). Compared with the control label, sugar-sweetened beverage health warnings also led to higher intentions to limit sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and elicited more attention, negative emotions, thinking about the harms of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, and anticipated social interactions. Trial arms did not differ on perceptions of sugar-sweetened beverages' added sugar content, healthfulness, appeal/coolness, or disease risk. CONCLUSIONS: Brief exposure to health warnings reduced sugar-sweetened beverage purchases in this naturalistic RCT. Sugar-sweetened beverage health warning policies could discourage sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT03511937.