title: Tobacco Attitudes and Behaviors of Vape Shop Retailers in Los Angeles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The growing popularity of e-cigarettes has been accompanied by the proliferation of vape shops in the US. Vape shops are devoted to the sale and use of e-cigarettes, allowing customers to sample flavors and learn about different hardware from retailers. Research on vape shop retailers is lagging behind their popularity. This study documented the attitudes and behaviors regarding e-cigarettes and other tobacco products of retailers located in Los Angeles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surveys were conducted among retailers at 78 vape shops in 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of retailers (76%) believed e-cigarettes are safer than combustible cigarettes, with about one-fourth believing e-cigarettes are completely safe. Retailers believed e-cigarettes are, on average, safer than products (eg, nicotine patch, gum, and inhaler) that have been approved for cessation by the FDA. About 14% of retailers reported dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes in the past month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to investigate tobacco-related behaviors and attitudes of vape shop retailers located in Los Angeles. Educating vape shop retailers on the benefits and harms of e-cigarettes is important, especially if retailers are to be informed about a product that is only now being considered to receive regulation from the FDA.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA. allem@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Jon-Patrick
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Allem
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baezconde-Garbanati
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sussman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003132:Commerce; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000191:economics; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult