Framework for the public health assessment of electronic cigarettes.
Tob Control
; 31(5): 608-614, 2022 09.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33958423
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are relatively new products with substantial public health impacts. Evidence on their effects is diverse and emerging rapidly, presenting challenges to high-quality policymaking and decision-making. This paper addresses these challenges by developing and presenting a framework for the public health assessment of e-cigarettes, using the Australian context as an example.METHODS:
Framework development involved stakeholder engagement, development of guiding principles, and consideration of existing relevant frameworks and the evidence requirements of current policy options, identified in published and grey literature.RESULTS:
Guiding principles include the need for the framework to be evidence based; include consideration of the likely balance of benefits and risks of e-cigarettes, uncertainty and safety; support equity; support the ongoing application of evidence to high-quality policy and practice; and consider potential competing interests. The framework draws upon health technology assessment; health impact assessment; environmental health risk assessment; healthcare recommendations evidence evaluation; consumer goods regulation; medicine and chemical scheduling; tobacco product evaluation; previous reviews and the precautionary principle. Final framework components are (1) characterisation of products under consideration; (2) definition of populations of interest; (3) characterisation of tobacco smoking, control and impacts on health and well-being; (4) review of evidence on patterns of e-cigarette use; (5) review of evidence on e-cigarette use and health outcomes; (6) assessment of likely risks, benefits and safety; (7) identification and assessment of policy options to optimise health outcomes.CONCLUSIONS:
Structured and ongoing public health assessment of e-cigarette use is likely to support health through enhancing evidence-based decision-making.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Smoking Cessation
/
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
Type of study:
Guideline
/
Health_technology_assessment
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
Tob Control
Journal subject:
TRANSTORNOS RELACIONADOS COM SUBSTANCIAS
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Australia