Relationship between e-cigarette media content and product use: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Media Studies
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• E-cigarettes are a popular alternative to traditional tobacco products.
• Widespread exposure to e-cigarette content raises public health concerns.
• This review investigates the link between media exposure and e-cigarette use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if exposure to e-cigarette content on social or traditional media is associated with product use.
• To explore trends in e-cigarette marketing and usage.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Literature search across major databases (PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, ScienceDirect) from 2004-2023.
• Inclusion of English-language studies examining media exposure (social, traditional, print) and e-cigarette use outcomes.

Main Results:

• 30 studies were included, with 14 longitudinal designs, predominantly from the US.
• Most studies found a significant association between e-cigarette marketing exposure and product use across demographics.
• Longitudinal data revealed a temporal link between marketing exposure and subsequent use, particularly in youth.

Conclusions:

• E-cigarette media advertising is evolving and shows a correlation with product use.
• Exposure to e-cigarette content across traditional and social media is consistently linked to consumption.
• Findings highlight the impact of media on diverse populations' e-cigarette use.