Surveillance methods for identifying, characterizing, and monitoring tobacco products: potential reduced exposure products as an example.
Tobacco products are widely sold and marketed, yet integrated data systems for identifying, tracking, and characterizing products are lacking. Tobacco manufacturers recently have developed potential reduced exposure products (PREP) with implied or explicit health claims. Currently, a systematic approach for identifying, defining, and evaluating PREPs sold at the local, state, or national levels in the United States has not been developed. Identifying, characterizing, and monitoring new tobacco products could be greatly enhanced with a responsive surveillance system. This article critically reviews available surveillance data sources for identifying and tracking tobacco products, including PREPs, evaluating strengths and weaknesses of potential data sources in light of their reliability and validity. With the absence of regulations mandating disclosure of product-specific information, it is likely that public health officials will need to rely on a variety of imperfect data sources to help identify, characterize, and monitor tobacco products, including PREPs.
O'Connor
Richard J
RJ
Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA. Richard.O'Connor@roswellpark.org
Cummings
K Michael
KM
Rees
Vaughan W
VW
Connolly
Gregory N
GN
Norton
Kaila J
KJ
Sweanor
David
D
Parascandola
Mark
M
Hatsukami
Dorothy K
DK
Shields
Peter G
PG
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D062789:Tobacco Products