title: Is exposure to e-cigarette communication associated with perceived harms of e-cigarette secondhand vapour? Results from a national survey of US adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  E-cigarettes are frequently advertised and portrayed in the media as less harmful compared with regular cigarettes. Earlier surveys reported public perceptions of harms to people using e-cigarettes; however, public perceptions of harms from exposure to secondhand vapour (SHV) have not been studied. We examined associations between self-reported exposure to e-cigarette advertising, media coverage, and interpersonal discussion and perceived harms of SHV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  National online sample of US adults aged ≥18 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  1449 US adults (mean age 49.5 years), 51.3% female, 76.6% non-Hispanic Caucasian, 7.5% African-American, 10.0% Hispanic and 5.9% other races.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perceived harm measures included (1) harmfulness of SHV to one's health, (2) concern about health impact of breathing SHV and (3) comparative harm of SHV versus secondhand smoke (SHS). Predictors were (1) self-reported frequency of exposure to e-cigarette advertising, media coverage and interpersonal discussion (close friends or family) and (2) perceived valence of exposure from each source. Covariates were demographic characteristics, cigarette smoking status and e-cigarette use, and were weighted to the general US adult population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More frequent interpersonal discussion was associated with lower perceived harmfulness of SHV to one's health and lower perceived comparative harm of SHV versus SHS. Frequency of e-cigarette ad and other media exposure were not significant predictors. Perceived negative valence of ad exposure and interpersonal discussion (vs no exposure) was associated with higher perceived harm across all three outcomes, while negative valence of media coverage was associated with higher concern about health impact of breathing SHV. Perceived positive valence (vs no exposure) of interpersonal discussion was associated with lower perceived harm across all three outcomes about health impact of breathing SHV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to information about e-cigarettes through advertising, media coverage and interpersonal discussion could play a role in shaping public perceptions of the harmfulness of SHV.
authors: Population Sciences Division, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Center for Community Based Research, Boston, USA Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA.
authors: Andy S L
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6459-6171
authors: AS
authors: Tan
authors: Department of Communication, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA.
authors: Cabral A
authors: CA
authors: Bigman
authors: Department of Communication Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, USA.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Mello
authors: Stanford University, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford, USA.
authors: Ashley
authors: A
authors: Sanders-Jackson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D003142:Communication; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005740:Gases / Q000633:toxicity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D005740:Gases
keywords: United States; electronic cigarette; perceived harm; public opinion; secondhand vapor