Young adult smoker risk perceptions of traditional cigarettes and nontraditional tobacco products.
OBJECTIVE
To explore risk perceptions of traditional and nontraditional tobacco products (NTPs) among young adult smokers.


METHODS
Focus groups with African Americans, non-Hispanic whites, and Hispanics. Risk ratings of light, regular, and menthol cigarettes and of NTPs and marijuana and cigarettes were compared.


RESULTS
Participants tended to view light cigarettes as safer than regular cigarettes. Shisha and herbal products were rated as safer than traditional cigarettes, but there were differences in ratings by race/ethnicity, related to preferred cigarette variety.


CONCLUSIONS
Health communication messages about the use of cigarettes and NTPs should consider risk perceptions about the products and racial/ethnic differences.
Richter
Patricia A
PA
Office on Smoking and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS K-50, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. pir1@cdc.gov
Pederson
Linda L
LL
O'Hegarty
Michelle M
MM
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013714:Tennessee; D013781:Texas; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D001741:Black or African American; D062789:Tobacco Products