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Open Access 01-12-2022 | Research

News events and their relationship with US vape sales: an interrupted time series analysis

Authors: Kamila Janmohamed, Shinpei Nakamura-Sakai, Abdul-Nasah Soale, Laura Forastiere, Frederick L. Altice, Navin Kumar

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2022

Abstract

Objective

News coverage around vaping-related events may have furthered misconceptions regarding the relative harms of vapes. Such information may influence the decisions of individuals who smoke, around switching to vaping, potentially affecting the overall tobacco mortality burden. Thus, it is prudent to study how news events (e.g., 2019 vaping illness epidemic) are associated with vape sales in the United States, to possibly reduce the tobacco mortality burden.

Methods

We used weekly retail sales data for e-cigarettes (30 December 2018 - 28 December 2019) from the US retail scanner data compiled by the Nielsen Company. We used an interrupted time series design with segmented regression analysis to determine immediate and longer-term impacts of individual news events (e.g. Trump administration’s planned ban on some flavored vaping products) on vape sales, controlling for pre-existing trends.

Results

Unexpectedly, we noted a statistically significant positive relationship between vape sales and the CDC announcing an investigation into vaping-related illnesses (Change: 6.59%, Estimate: 0.066; 95% CI: 0.036, 0.092; P < 0.001). We also observed a similar positive association between vape sales and the CDC’s announcement on the link between Vitamin E acetate and EVALI (Change: 2.93%, Estimate: 0.029; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.055; P < 0.05). There was a steep decline in sales after these events.

Conclusions

News events may be associated with US vape sales. Findings have implications for the management of risk perceptions around vaping to improve health outcomes of tobacco users. Information-based policy instruments can be applied to balance the effects of news events that may influence vape sales.

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Title: News events and their relationship with US vape sales: an interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Kamila Janmohamed
Shinpei Nakamura-Sakai
Abdul-Nasah Soale
Laura Forastiere
Frederick L. Altice
Navin Kumar
Publication date: 01-12-2022
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12858-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

News events and their relationship with US vape sales: an interrupted time series analysis

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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