How Media Stories in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Discussed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Modified Risk Tobacco Product Order for IQOS.

INTRODUCTION: In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the marketing of IQOS as a modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) with reduced exposure information (reduces exposure to harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes) but prohibited Philip Morris International from making reduced risk claims (reduces risk of disease compared to cigarettes). We aimed to assess how news media in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) discussed this authorization and whether articles discussed IQOS as a reduced exposure versus reduced risk product. AIMS AND METHODS: News articles published between July 7, 2020 and January 7, 2021 were obtained by searching Tobacco Watcher (www.tobaccowatcher.org), a surveillance platform for tobacco-related news. Articles were eligible if they were published in an LMIC and mentioned the IQOS MRTP order. Non-English language articles were professionally translated. Articles were double coded to identify country of origin, reduced risk and reduced exposure language, discussions of potential impacts of the authorization on regulations in LMICs, and quotes from tobacco industry and public health stakeholders. RESULTS: We identified 50 eligible articles published in 20 LMICs. Twenty-six (52%) and 40 (80%) included reduced risk and reduced exposure language, respectively. Twenty-two (44%) discussed potential impacts of the MRTP order on regulations in LMICs. Thirty (60%) included quotes from tobacco industry representatives, 6 (12%) included quotes from public health or medical professionals, and 2 (4%) included both. CONCLUSIONS: News articles in LMICs frequently misreported the MRTP order by using reduced risk language. The authorization is potentially being used to shape perspectives on tobacco regulations in LMICs. Tobacco control experts need to more frequently share their perspectives with the news media. IMPLICATIONS: News articles from LMICs frequently misrepresented the IQOS MRTP order by using reduced risk language (reduces harm compared to cigarettes) rather than only using reduced exposure language (reduces exposure to harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes). Many articles referred to IQOS as a "better alternative" to cigarettes without specifically referencing reduced risk. Few articles included perspectives from public health or medical professionals, while most included tobacco industry quotes, suggesting that tobacco control experts need to more frequently engage with the news media. These findings also highlight how the U.S. FDA's actions can potentially shape perspectives on tobacco product regulations in LMICs.

Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on syringe services programs in rural Kentucky.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) exacerbated risks for adverse health consequences among people who inject drugs by reducing access to sterile injection equipment, HIV testing, and syringe services programs (SSPs). Several decades of research demonstrate the public health benefits of SSP implementation; however, existing evidence primarily reflects studies conducted in metropolitan areas and before the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVES: We aim to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected SSP operations in rural Kentucky counties. METHODS: In late 2020, we conducted eighteen in-depth, semi-structured interviews with persons (10 women, 8 men) involved in SSP implementation in rural Kentucky counties. The interview guide broadly explored the barriers and facilitators to SSP implementation in rural communities; participants were also asked to describe how COVID-19 affected SSP operations. RESULTS: Participants emphasized the need to continue providing SSP-related services throughout the pandemic. COVID-19 mitigation strategies (e.g., masking, social distancing, pre-packing sterile injection equipment) limited relationship building between staff and clients and, more broadly, the pandemic adversely affected overall program expansion, momentum building, and coalition building. However, participants offered multiple examples of innovative solutions to the myriad of obstacles the pandemic presented. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted SSP operations throughout rural Kentucky. Despite challenges, participants reported that providing SSP services remained paramount. Diverse adaptative strategies were employed to ensure continuation of essential SSP services, demonstrating the commitment and ingenuity of program staff. Given that SSPs are essential for preventing adverse injection drug use-associated health consequences, further resources should be invested in SSP operations to ensure service delivery is not negatively affected by co-occurring crises.

#Nicotineaddiction on TikTok: A quantitative content analysis of top-viewed posts.

INTRODUCTION: TikTok, the video-sharing app popular among youth, is a source of user-generated content about nicotine addiction with the potential to endorse or deter nicotine use among young viewers. We systematically analyzed content and themes of TikTok posts tagged #nicotineaddiction. METHODS: We conducted a quantitative content analysis of the visual and textual content of the 149 top-viewed English-language TikTok posts tagged #nicotineaddiction as of 1 March 2021. Posts were double-coded using a shared codebook, noting content creator characteristics, nicotine products featured, references to quitting, and overall themes of #nicotineaddiction expressed. We assessed the prevalence of post characteristics and themes overall and by apparent age of content creators (aged ≥21 years versus <21 years). RESULTS: The 149 posts analyzed received a mean and median of 62433 and 15800 likes, respectively. E-cigarettes were referenced or featured in 75% of posts; 58% featured a specific nicotine product brand, most commonly Puff Bar (23% of total) and JUUL (19%). Overall, 22% of posts mentioned quitting nicotine. The top themes of #nicotineaddiction expressed were physical or psychological consequences (e.g. withdrawal symptoms, 46%), physical or psychological benefits (e.g. tasting good, feeling 'buzzed', 28%), and social benefits (e.g. bonding with fellow users, 28%). Compared to those aged ≥21 years, posts by content creators likely <21 years (26%) less commonly mentioned quitting (p<0.01), had fewer followers (p<0.01), were more commonly from Canada (p<0.01) and less commonly from the US (p<0.01), and more commonly featured JUUL (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: While reaching a large and engaged audience, TikTok content creators suggest a range of benefits and consequences of nicotine addiction. Future research is warranted to examine this content's potential to influence young people's intentions to use or quit nicotine products.

Applications of research evidence during processes to acquire approvals for syringe services program implementation in rural counties in Kentucky.

INTRODUCTION: Despite decades of empirical research in the US and internationally documenting the benefits of implementing syringe services programs (SSPs), their implementation may be controversial in many jurisdictions. Better understanding how research evidence is applied during SSP implementation processes may enable the public health workforce to advocate for program scale up. This study explores applications of research evidence during processes to acquire approvals for SSP implementation in rural counties in Kentucky. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted among eighteen stakeholders (e.g. health department directors, SSP operators) involved in SSP implementation in rural Kentucky counties. Stakeholders were asked to describe the contexts surrounding SSP implementation processes. Interviews were transcribed and analysed for applications of research evidence. Research evidence-related quotes were subsequently categorised based on the typologies for applications of research evidence developed by Weiss et al. (instrumental, conceptual, and symbolic) and a fourth category for instances when research evidence was not used. RESULTS: Instrumental applications of research evidence occurred at the intrapersonal and interpersonal levels to dispel concerns about SSPs and formed the basis for implementation support. SSP proponents used research evidence in a conceptual manner to address underlying attitudes and beliefs that were not evidence-based. Participants reported symbolic research evidence applications to justify pre-existing attitudes and beliefs about meeting the public health needs of people who inject drugs. Lastly, in some instances, research evidence was met with scepticism and an unwillingness to consider its merits. CONCLUSION: Applications of research evidence during SSP implementation approval processes in rural Kentucky counties were heterogeneous in nature. Better understanding the diversity of ways in which research evidence may be employed during SSP implementation processes may support efforts to improve the public health of people who inject drugs.Key messagesApplications of research evidence during SSP implementation approval processes in rural Kentucky counties were heterogeneous in nature.Instrumental applications of research evidence occurred at the intrapersonal and interpersonal levels to dispel concerns about SSPs and formed the basis for implementation support.SSP proponents used research evidence in a conceptual manner to address underlying attitudes and beliefs that were not evidence-based.