Judgments, awareness, and the use of snus among adults in the United States.
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ABSTRACT: Introduction
Alternative tobacco products, such as snus, are emerging in the U.S. market. Understanding correlates of awareness and use, particularly judgments about harm and addictiveness, can inform public health communications about these products.Methods
Data were collected from a web panel representative of the U.S. population in March 2013 (N = 2,067). The survey assessed awareness and use of snus among adults. Absolute and comparative snus judgments, intentions, smoking status, and sociodemographic variables were measured. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between these variables and snus awareness and use.Results
Nearly 36% of the population was aware of snus, and 5.2% reported ever using snus. Current cigarette smokers were about 4 times more likely as nonsmokers to report snus awareness and use. Sociodemographic correlates of snus awareness and use included being male, employed full time, and younger. Compared with respondents who perceived snus to be as harmful and as addictive as cigarettes, those who perceived snus to be less harmful and less addictive than cigarettes were more likely to have used snus.Conclusions
Current smokers are more likely to be aware of and have used snus. Multiple tobacco product use poses a significant challenge for public health efforts to reduce tobacco-associated morbidity and mortality. Perceptions that snus is less harmful and less addictive compared with cigarettes are associated with snus use. These judgments can inform public health communications about emerging tobacco products and multiple product use.
SUBMITTER: Kaufman AR
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4168296 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Judgments, awareness, and the use of snus among adults in the United States.
Kaufman Annette R AR Mays Darren D Koblitz Amber R AR Portnoy David B DB
Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco 20140806 10
<h4>Introduction</h4>Alternative tobacco products, such as snus, are emerging in the U.S. market. Understanding correlates of awareness and use, particularly judgments about harm and addictiveness, can inform public health communications about these products.<h4>Methods</h4>Data were collected from a web panel representative of the U.S. population in March 2013 (N = 2,067). The survey assessed awareness and use of snus among adults. Absolute and comparative snus judgments, intentions, smoking st ...[more]
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Project description:IntroductionLittle is known about dissolvable tobacco products (DTPs) compared with other alternative tobacco products (ATPs) like e-cigarettes and snus. We sought to understand US adults' awareness and use of DTPs.MethodsA nationally representative sample of US adults (age ≥ 18 years, N = 17 522) completed an online survey in March 2013 assessing their awareness and use of DTPs.ResultsApproximately 16% of all respondents were aware of DTPs. Few reported ever using DTPs (1.6%). DTP awareness among all respondents was greatest among males, younger adults, current and former smokers, never married respondents, blacks and Latinos, and those who used other ATPs. Among current smokers, DTP awareness was greatest for males, younger adults, blacks and Latinos, those who used other ATPs, and Southerners. DTP use among all respondents was greatest among males, younger adults, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) respondents, former and current smokers, and those who used other ATPs. Among current smokers, DTP use was greatest among males, younger adults, LGBT respondents, those who used other ATPs, those who intended to quit, and those who received medical advice to quit.ConclusionsDTP awareness and use have increased since 2009. DTPs are being used as smoking cessation aids thereby increasing risk of polytobacco use. Medical professionals should emphasize use of empirically-supported smoking cessation aids when advising patients to quit. Regulations are needed to prevent tobacco company promotion of DTPs as smoking cessation aids and to inform consumers of the risks associated with DTPs and polytobacco use. Increased national surveillance of DTP use is recommended.
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| S-EPMC8557315 | biostudies-literature
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Project description:BackgroundOral nicotine pouches (NPs) that contain nicotine but no tobacco leaves are rapidly gaining popularity. However, there is limited research on NPs, including within priority populations. In the current study, we examined awareness of, susceptibility to, and use of NPs in young adults as well as comparative risk perceptions with smokeless tobacco.MethodsIn 2021, 609 young adults (18-25 years) completed an online survey. Participants reported on NP awareness, susceptibility, and use as well as on comparative product perceptions for NPs versus smokeless tobacco. We ran unadjusted between-groups comparisons and an adjusted multinomial logistic regression to identify relationships between product perceptions and NP susceptibility and use.Results41.5% of participants had heard of NPs before. Participants were non-susceptible (66.2%), susceptible (23.5%), or had used NPs (10.3%). Comparative product perceptions between NPs and smokeless tobacco suggested that young adults, as a whole, expressed uncertainty about the relative risk/benefit of using NPs versus smokeless tobacco. However, as expected, unadjusted and adjusted findings indicated that favorable perceptions of NPs versus smokeless tobacco were disproportionately observed among susceptible participants and NP users compared to non-susceptible individuals. Demographic differences were also observed (e.g., NP users were more likely than non-susceptible and susceptible individuals to have used smokeless tobacco).ConclusionsYoung adults reported awareness of, susceptibility to, and use of NPs, with findings indicating that favorable perceptions of NPs versus smokeless tobacco may contribute to NP susceptibility and use beyond known correlates like smokeless tobacco use. However, further research is needed to understand the full range of factors that are associated with NP susceptibility and use. It will be important to disentangle factors that are associated with potential positive public health impacts (e.g., switching from smokeless tobacco to exclusive NP use) from those associated with negative public health impacts (e.g., initiation among nicotine naïve individuals).
| S-EPMC9886243 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportancePrompt recognition of myocardial infarction symptoms is critical for timely access to lifesaving emergency cardiac care. However, patients with myocardial infarction continue to have a delayed presentation to the hospital.ObjectiveTo understand the variation and disparities in awareness of myocardial infarction symptoms among adults in the United States.Design, setting, and participantsThis cross-sectional study used data from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey among adult residents of the United States, assessing awareness of the 5 following common myocardial infarction symptoms among different sociodemographic subgroups: (1) chest pain or discomfort, (2) shortness of breath, (3) pain or discomfort in arms or shoulders, (4) feeling weak, lightheaded, or faint, and (5) jaw, neck, or back pain. The response to a perceived myocardial infarction (ie, calling emergency medical services vs other) was also assessed.Main outcomes and measuresPrevalence and characteristics of individuals who were unaware of myocardial infarction symptoms and/or chose not to call emergency medical services in response to these symptoms.ResultsAmong 25?271 individuals (13?820 women [51.6%; 95% CI, 50.8%-52.4%]; 17?910 non-Hispanic white individuals [69.9%; 95% CI, 68.2%-71.6%]; and 21?826 individuals [82.7%; 95% CI, 81.5%-83.8%] born in the United States), 23?383 (91.8%; 95% CI, 91.0%-92.6%) considered chest pain or discomfort a symptom of myocardial infarction; 22?158 (87.0%; 95% CI, 86.1%-87.8%) considered shortness of breath a symptom; 22?064 (85.7%; 95% CI, 84.8%-86.5%) considered pain or discomfort in arm a symptom; 19?760 (77.0%; 95% CI, 76.1%-77.9%) considered feeling weak, lightheaded, or faint a symptom; and 16?567 (62.6%; 95% CI, 61.6%-63.7%) considered jaw, neck, or back pain a symptom. Overall, 14?075 adults (53.0%; 95% CI, 51.9%-54.1%) were aware of all 5 symptoms, whereas 4698 (20.3%; 95% CI, 19.4%-21.3%) were not aware of the 3 most common symptoms and 1295 (5.8%; 95% CI, 5.2%-6.4%) were not aware of any symptoms. Not being aware of any symptoms was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.23; 95% CI, 1.05-1.44; P?=?.01), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.47-2.43; P?<?.001), not having been born in the United States (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.47-2.33; P?<?.001), and having a lower education level (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.09-1.58; P?=?.004). Among 294 non-Hispanic black or Hispanic individuals who were not born in the United States, belonged to the low-income or lowest-income subgroup, were uninsured, and had a lower education level, 61 (17.9%; 95% CI, 13.3%-23.6%) were not aware of any symptoms. This group had 6-fold higher odds of not being aware of any symptoms (OR, 6.34; 95% CI, 3.92-10.26; P?<?.001) compared with individuals without these characteristics. Overall, 1130 individuals (4.5%; 95% CI, 4.0%-5.0%) chose a different response than calling emergency medical services in response to a myocardial infarction.Conclusions and relevanceMany adults in the United States remain unaware of the symptoms of and appropriate response to a myocardial infarction. In this study, several sociodemographic subgroups were associated with a higher risk of not being aware. They may benefit the most from targeted public health initiatives.
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Project description:Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States (1). The prevalence of adult cigarette smoking has declined in recent years to 14.0% in 2017 (2). However, an array of new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, has entered the U.S. market (3). To assess recent national estimates of tobacco product use among U.S. adults aged ?18 years, CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Cancer Institute analyzed data from the 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). In 2018, an estimated 49.1 million U.S. adults (19.7%) reported currently using any tobacco product, including cigarettes (13.7%), cigars (3.9%), e-cigarettes (3.2%), smokeless tobacco (2.4%), and pipes* (1.0%). Most tobacco product users (83.8%) reported using combustible products (cigarettes, cigars, or pipes), and 18.8% reported using two or more tobacco products. The prevalence of any current tobacco product use was higher in males; adults aged ?65 years; non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives; those with a General Educational Development certificate (GED); those with an annual household income <$35,000; lesbian, gay, or bisexual adults; uninsured adults; those with a disability or limitation; and those with serious psychological distress. The prevalence of e-cigarette and smokeless tobacco use increased during 2017-2018. During 2009-2018, there were significant increases in all three cigarette cessation indicators (quit attempts, recent cessation, and quit ratio). Implementing comprehensive population-based interventions in coordination with regulation of the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of all tobacco products can reduce tobacco-related disease and death in the United States (1,4).
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