‘I perceive it to be less harmful, I have no idea if it is or not:’ a qualitative exploration of the harm perceptions of IQOS among adult users

Autor: Ann McNeill, Katherine A. East, Sara C. Hitchman, Charlotte N. E. Tompkins
Přispěvatelé: University of Zurich, East, Katherine A
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Adult
Nicotine
media_common.quotation_subject
030508 substance abuse
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
Tobacco industry
Tobacco Use
2738 Psychiatry and Mental Health
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
10240 Department of Communication and Media Research
Perception
Qualitative research
Tobacco
Tobacco Smoking
medicine
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
070 News media
journalism & publishing

media_common
Social policy
Social work
Research
Public Health
Environmental and Occupational Health

2701 Medicine (miscellaneous)
Tobacco Products
2739 Public Health
Environmental and Occupational Health

Psychiatry and Mental health
Health psychology
Harm
Harm perceptions
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
0305 other medical science
Psychology
Social psychology
medicine.drug
Zdroj: Harm Reduction Journal, Vol 18, Iss 1, Pp 1-12 (2021)
Harm Reduction Journal
ISSN: 1477-7517
Popis: Background Harm perceptions of tobacco and nicotine products can influence their use and could be targeted by policies to change behaviour. IQOS was introduced to the UK in 2016, and there is little independent qualitative research on IQOS harm perceptions. This study explored the perceived health harms of IQOS to users and those exposed to the emissions, what shapes these perceptions, and what participants wanted to know about the harms of IQOS. Methods Qualitative interviews in London, UK, with 30 adult current and former IQOS users who currently smoked or quit smoking in the last 2 years. Results IQOS was perceived as less harmful than smoking but not risk-free, although there was great uncertainty. Influences on harm perceptions were consolidated into six themes: (1) dominance of manufacturer claims influenced perceptions that IQOS is less harmful than smoking to users and those around them, although mistrust of the tobacco industry heightened scepticism about harms; (2) limited independent and long-term research led to uncertainty about harms, although some participants trusted IQOS would not be marketed if it were very harmful. Participants wanted more independent and long-term studies into harm; (3) appearance of HEETS (tobacco sticks) packaging conveyed reduced harm because packets were ‘pretty’, without graphic/specific warnings, although written warnings conveyed some harm. Participants wanted more information on HEETS packets about harms; (4) process of heating and HEETS contents—heating, compared with burning, tobacco was perceived to produce fewer harmful chemicals, while tobacco, nicotine, and chemicals in HEETS were perceived to cause some harm. Participants wanted clarification about the harms of heating tobacco and HEETS ingredients; (5) improvements in physical health and personal appearance reduced perceptions of harm; (6) differences in sensory experiences (taste, sight, smell) when using IQOS over smoking reduced perceptions of harm, while ‘black’ deposits inside IQOS led to perceptions of some harm. Reduced volume and smell of IQOS emissions also reduced perceptions of harm to non-users exposed to the emissions. Conclusions IQOS was perceived as less harmful than smoking but not risk-free, although there was great uncertainty. Participants wanted clarification about IQOS harms from independent sources in accessible forms, specifically related to HEETS ingredients, heating tobacco, and emissions to others.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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