Decoding consumers' interpretations of 'additive-free' and 'tobacco & water' cigarette advertising claims.

Objectives: In the USA, some tobacco companies replaced the marketing phrase '100% natural additive-free tobacco' with 'tobacco ingredients: tobacco & water' (T&W) after receiving warnings from the US Food and Drug Administration. This study assesses how people interpret the now-restricted additive-free claims and newer T&W claims on Natural American Spirit (NAS) and L&M cigarette packs.

Methods: An online between-subjects experiment randomised 2526 US adults to view one of three packs: an NAS additive-free pack, an NAS T&W pack or an L&M T&W pack.

Monitoring youth-appealing advertising on social media for the e-cigarette brand Lost Mary.

Lost Mary is a popular e-cigarette brand among youth in the United States. This study aimed to analyze Lost Mary's branded social media activity and assess whether marketing efforts may have contributed to its youth appeal. We conducted a content analysis of 53 Lost Mary posts published on social media platforms from 2022 to 2023.

Firefighter- and Fire Department-Level Barriers and Promoters of Physical Activity and Fitness Among Volunteer Firefighters: A Qualitative Study Using Semistructured Interviews.

Objective: To describe volunteer firefighters' perspectives on how firefighter- and fire department-level factors influence their physical activity and fitness.

Methods: Firefighters (n = 28) were interviewed, stratified by their years of firefighting, using an interview guide. Thematic analysis and systematic coding were used to analyze the interview transcripts.

Young adults' attention to reduced exposure claims in IQOS advertising and associations with product perceptions and use intentions.

Introduction: Non-combusted tobacco products, particularly those authorized as modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs), may appeal to young adults. This cross-sectional study explored young adults' attention to reduced exposure claims in IQOS advertising and its associations with product perceptions and use intentions.

Methods: Fifty-one young adults aged 21-29 (mean age = 24.

Recognition of Online E-cigarette Marketing and E-cigarette-Related Attitudes and Behaviors Among Young Adults.

Introduction: Past research examining the relationship between exposure to online e-cigarette marketing and e-cigarette-related attitudes and behaviors has relied on unaided recall measures that may suffer from self-report bias. To date, few studies have presented participants with e-cigarette marketing stimuli and assessed recognition. This study examined the associations between recognition of online e-cigarette marketing stimuli and e-cigarette-related attitudes and behaviors among young adults in California.

Youth attention, perceptions, and appeal in response to e-cigarette advertising features: A focus group study.

Background: E-cigarette marketing exposure may influence vaping-related outcomes among youth, but less is known on which specific advertising features impact youth attention, perceptions, and appeal. This study qualitatively examines responses to different e-cigarette advertising features among e-cigarette-naïve youth.

Methods: We conducted four online focus groups in 2021 with a national U.

Associations Between Noticing E-Cigarette Advertising Features and E-Cigarette Appeal and Switching Interest Among Young Adult Dual Users.

Background: E-cigarette advertising, which often includes various features, may prompt e-cigarette use and product switching. This study examined the associations between noticing e-cigarette ad features and perceived product appeal and interest in completely switching from cigarettes to advertised e-cigarettes among young adult dual users of both products.

Methods: We analyzed data from an online heatmap experiment among young adult dual users defined as established cigarette smokers who currently used e-cigarettes (ages 18-34 years;  = 1,821).

Associations of educational and marketing messages with beliefs about nicotine and reduced nicotine cigarettes.

Introduction: Widespread misperceptions about nicotine may have unintended effects on public health. We examined associations between existing messages about nicotine or tobacco and beliefs about nicotine and reduced nicotine cigarettes (RNC).

Methods: 2962 U.

Longitudinal Association Between Harm Perceptions and Tobacco Behaviors Among Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes: Differential Associations Across Age Groups Using the PATH Study.

Introduction: The relationship between e-cigarette and cigarette harm perceptions and tobacco behaviors may vary by age. We examined longitudinal associations of harm perceptions with tobacco use behaviors among adults who smoke cigarettes.

Aims And Methods: Data were from Waves 4 (2016-2018) and 5 (2018-2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health survey.

The Impact of Exposure to Food and Drug Administration E-cigarette Authorization Messages on Product Perceptions and Interest-An Experiment With Adults Who Smoke and Youth.

Introduction: In the United States, e-cigarettes have entered a new regulatory era, needing authorizations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remain on or enter the marketplace. This study explored the impact of e-cigarette authorization messages on product perceptions and interests.

Aims And Methods: We conducted an online experiment in June 2022 with nationally representative samples of adults (≥21) who smoke cigarettes (n = 866) and youth ages 15-20 (n = 859).

Widespread Misperceptions Among U.S. Adults About Tobacco Company Engagement in Black and African American Communities.

Introduction: Menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars (MC/FC) bring profits to U.S. tobacco companies at the cost of Black/African American (B/AA) lives.

Measurement of cigarette relighting: A common but understudied behavior.

Objective: Relighting, i.e., extinguishing, saving, and later relighting and smoking unfinished cigarettes, appears prevalent, may be associated with nicotine dependence and negative health outcomes, yet is poorly understood.

From "Additive-Free" to "Tobacco & Water": Assessing the Impact of Marketing Claim Changes on Natural American Spirit and L&M Cigarettes.

Introduction: The 2017 agreement between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the makers of Natural America Spirit (NAS) cigarettes restricted the use of "additive-free" (AF) in brand marketing, which the company replaced with "tobacco ingredients: tobacco & water" (TW), a phrase subsequently adopted by L&M.

Does noticing cigar warnings associate with cigar harm perceptions and smoking behaviors? Analysis from Wave 5 of the population assessment of tobacco and health study.

Background: In the US, cigar warning label standards are less stringent than cigarette warning requirements and are not uniformly required; research is needed about warning efficacy in promoting cigar risk beliefs, discouraging use and supporting public health.

Methods: Using data from the PATH Study (Wave 5), we analyzed associations between noticing cigar warnings and perceived harm from cigar use, frequency of thinking about harms, and effects of warnings labels.

Results: Among adults who smoke cigars, respondents noticing warnings at least sometimes (vs.

Acute effects of charcoal filters and package color on cigarette perceptions and use behaviors: Results from a randomized pilot study examining Natural American Spirit "Sky".

Introduction: Charcoal-filtered cigarettes have been available for decades but have never held a major share of the U.S. cigarette market.

Noticing education campaigns or public health messages about vaping among youth in the United States, Canada and England from 2018 to 2022.

Public health campaigns have the potential to correct vaping misperceptions. However, campaigns highlighting vaping harms to youth may increase misperceptions that vaping is equally/more harmful than smoking. Vaping campaigns have been implemented in the United States and Canada since 2018 and in England since 2017 but with differing focus: youth vaping prevention (United States/Canada) and smoking cessation (England).

Communicating the benefits of quitting smoking on mental health increases motivation to quit in people with anxiety and/or depression.

Background: Although smoking rates have declined over time, this decline has not been observed among those with mental health concerns. It is therefore important to develop effective messaging to support quitting in this population.

Methods: We conducted an online experiment with 419 adults who smoke cigarettes daily.

Perceived Truthfulness of Reduced Lung Cancer Risk Advertising Claims Influences Consumers' Intention to try and to Purchase Snus.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the impact of a reduced risk claim about lung cancer, presented in various formats, on smokers' and non-smokers' interest in trying Camel Snus and intention to purchase Camel Snus. We varied claim formats by varying advertising messages for Camel Snus in 4 ways (1) text only; (2) bar chart; (3) text/testimonial; and (4) bar chart/testimonial. 3001 participants were recruited from a web-based consumer specialty panel via an email invitation.

Longitudinal relationship between relative harm perceptions, beliefs about organic and additive-free tobacco, and cigarette brand switching among Natural American Spirit, Camel and Marlboro cigarette smokers.

Introduction: While previous research has examined misperceptions related to Natural American Spirit (NAS), a premium cigarette brand using 'natural'-themed marketing, the longitudinal relationship between NAS-related harm beliefs and switching to NAS has not been established.

Methods: Using data from the PATH study, we modelled the longitudinal relationship between (1) brand switching and subsequent belief that one's own brand might be less harmful than other brands (Waves 1-5); (2) belief that organic and/or additive-free tobacco products are less harmful and subsequent brand switching (Waves 3-5); and (3) belief that some types of cigarettes are less harmful and subsequent brand switching (Waves 3-5) for NAS and two leading comparator brands (Camel and Marlboro).

Results: Among people who did not think their prior brand might be less harmful, switching to NAS or maintaining NAS preference increased the odds of believing one's own brand might be less harmful (aOR 19.

Changes in Tobacco Dependence and Association With Onset and Progression of Use by Product Type From Waves 1 to 3 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.

Introduction: This study examined trajectories of tobacco dependence (TD) in relationship to changes in tobacco product use, and explored the effects of product-specific adding, switching, or discontinued use on dependence over time.

Aims And Methods: Data were analyzed from the first three waves from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a nationally representative, longitudinal study of adults and youth in the United States. Data included 9556 wave 1 (2013-2014) adult current established tobacco users aged 18 or older who completed all three interviews and had established use at ≥2 assessments.

Organic, Earth-Friendly Tobacco With a Charcoal Filter and Smooth Taste: A Randomized Experiment Testing Effects of Natural American Spirit's "Sky" Cigarette Advertising on Consumer Perceptions.

Introduction: The Natural American Spirit (NAS) brand has a history of marketing tactics that may convey reduced harm. While no longer allowed to use "additive-free" or natural descriptors (except in the brand name), it continues promoting potentially misleading attributes. This study examined perceptions of NAS's newer "Sky" style, promoted as organic tobacco with a charcoal filter.

Changes in Pack Features Among Top-Selling Cigarettes in the U.S., 2018 and 2021.

Introduction: Cigarette packaging is designed to increase consumer appeal and remains a primary promotional tool in many countries, including the U.S. This study documented changes in the prevalence of pack characteristics among the top-selling cigarette products in the U.