Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14(6), 613; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14060613
Consumers’ Preferences for Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Product Features: A Structured Content Analysis
Christine E. Kistler 1,2,*
, Trisha M. Crutchfield 2,3
, Erin L. Sutfin 4, Leah M. Ranney 1,2, Micah L. Berman 5, Gary A. Zarkin 6 and Adam O. Goldstein 1,2
, Erin L. Sutfin 4, Leah M. Ranney 1,2, Micah L. Berman 5, Gary A. Zarkin 6 and Adam O. Goldstein 1,21
Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 590 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
2
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
3
UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
4
Department of Social Science and Health Policy, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27599, USA
5
College of Public Health & Moritz College of Law, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
6
Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Research Division, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27599, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Paul B. Tchounwou
Received: 6 April 2017 / Revised: 31 May 2017 / Accepted: 2 June 2017 / Published: 7 June 2017
(This article belongs to the Section Global Health)
Abstract
To inform potential governmental regulations, we aimed to develop a list of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) product features important to U.S. consumers by age and gender. We employed qualitative data methods. Participants were eligible if they had used an ENDS at least once. Groups were selected by age and gender (young adult group aged 18–25, n = 11; middle-age group aged 26–64, n = 9; and women’s group aged 26–64, n = 9). We conducted five individual older adult interviews (aged 68–80). Participants discussed important ENDS features. We conducted a structured content analysis of the group and interview responses. Of 34 participants, 68% were white and 56% were female. Participants mentioned 12 important ENDS features, including: (1) user experience; (2) social acceptability; (3) cost; (4) health risks/benefits; (5) ease of use; (6) flavors; (7) smoking cessation aid; (8) nicotine content; (9) modifiability; (10) ENDS regulation; (11) bridge between tobacco cigarettes; (12) collectability. The most frequently mentioned ENDS feature was modifiability for young adults, user experience for middle-age and older adults, and flavor for the women’s group. This study identified multiple features important to ENDS consumers. Groups differed in how they viewed various features by age and gender. These results can inform ongoing regulatory efforts. View Full-Text
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. (CC BY 4.0).
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Kistler, C.E.; Crutchfield, T.M.; Sutfin, E.L.; Ranney, L.M.; Berman, M.L.; Zarkin, G.A.; Goldstein, A.O. Consumers’ Preferences for Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Product Features: A Structured Content Analysis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 613.
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