Journal article
Unboxed: US Young Adult Tobacco Users’ Responses to a New Heated Tobacco Product
International journal of environmental research and public health, Vol.17(21), pp.1-14
11/2020
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218108
PMCID: PMC7662359
PMID: 33153143
Abstract
The heated tobacco product (HTP) IQOS was authorized for sale in the US in 2019. We investigated how young adults with experience using multiple tobacco products reacted to, perceived, and developed interest in IQOS, informing policies that might prevent HTPs from becoming ubiquitous. We used a novel qualitative method in which 33 young adult tobacco users in California (fall 2019) “unboxed” an IQOS device, tobacco sticks, and marketing materials and narrated their impressions and opinions. We conducted content and thematic analyses of participants’ reactions, sensory experiences, and interest. Multiple attributes influenced appeal for participants, including sleek electronic design, novel technology, perceived harmfulness, complexity, and high cost. The “no smoke” claim and heating technology suggested that smoking IQOS was safer than smoking cigarettes. Public health programs should closely monitor HTP marketing and uptake, particularly as “reduced exposure” claims were authorized in July 2020. Evidence-based regulations (e.g., requiring plain packaging for tobacco sticks), actions addressing IQOS’ unique attributes (e.g., regulating device packaging to reduce high-tech appeal), and public education might help to counter the appeal generated by potentially misleading IQOS marketing tactics.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Unboxed: US Young Adult Tobacco Users’ Responses to a New Heated Tobacco Product
- Creators
- Minji Kim - Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (M.K.); (A.M.H.); (P.M.L.) Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (K.A.K.); (H.C.K.); (S.O.) Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USAShannon Lea Watkins - Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (M.K.); (A.M.H.); (P.M.L.) Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (K.A.K.); (H.C.K.); (S.O.) Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USAKimberly A Koester - Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (M.K.); (A.M.H.); (P.M.L.) Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (K.A.K.); (H.C.K.); (S.O.) Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USAJeremiah Mock - Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (M.K.); (A.M.H.); (P.M.L.) Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (K.A.K.); (H.C.K.); (S.O.) Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USAHyunjin Cindy Kim - Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (M.K.); (A.M.H.); (P.M.L.) Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (K.A.K.); (H.C.K.); (S.O.) Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USASarah Olson - Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (M.K.); (A.M.H.); (P.M.L.) Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (K.A.K.); (H.C.K.); (S.O.) Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USAArit Michael Harvanko - Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (M.K.); (A.M.H.); (P.M.L.) Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (K.A.K.); (H.C.K.); (S.O.) Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USAPamela M Ling - Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (M.K.); (A.M.H.); (P.M.L.) Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (K.A.K.); (H.C.K.); (S.O.) Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Health & Aging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International journal of environmental research and public health, Vol.17(21), pp.1-14
- DOI
- 10.3390/ijerph17218108
- PMID
- 33153143
- PMCID
- PMC7662359
- NLM abbreviation
- Int J Environ Res Public Health
- ISSN
- 1661-7827
- eISSN
- 1660-4601
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/2020
- Academic Unit
- Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984214795902771
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