Choi, Kelvin. PhD, MPH, Lindsey Fabian, MPH, and Jean Forster, PhD, MPH.(2012) Young
Adult’s Favorable Perceptions of Snus, Dissolvable Tobacco Products, and Electronic
Cigarettes. Findings From a Focus Group Study. US National library of Medicine.
102(11):2088-2093
Aim of the study
The aim of this study is to explore the young adult’s view on the use of tobacco products and their thoughts about whether they would try these products. Smoking among teenagers is a worldwide issue. There is an urgent need to protect the population from health, environmental and economic factors that exposure to and the use of tobacco causes. The Government is putting measures in place that will reduce the prevalence of tobacco use. By putting these measures in place there will be less burdensome on the Government to take care of those who fall ill with diseases that are related to smoking. The purpose of this study will heighten the awareness of the ill-effects that this habit has on those who indulge.
Research Design
This study is conducted over five months and the thematic approach was used to analyze the findings. The thematic approach was also used to collect data. Eleven groups were organized comprising of 66 young adults 18-26 years of age. A series of focus group was formed based on gender and education. The participants discussed their perceived use of and their intention to use tobacco products. Participants from the St. Paul area of Minneapolis were used for this research. They are students who are in college or had graduated. One group represented the higher socioeconomic status, while another represented those of lower socioeconomic status.
These participants are recruited by placing online advertisements, handing out fliers, setting up recruitment booths and making newspaper announcements. To be eligible, they had to have attained the age of eighteen and had used tobacco product at least once in the past 30 days.
Participants were shown pictures of tobacco products so they could be familiar with these. All focus group discussion was recorded and analyzed using the focus group approach.
The thematic approach is flexible and is not tied to any particular discipline however, researchers use this method to manipulate the data they gather from their studies.
Findings
Interestingly, the research conducted found that participants expressed a dislike for the products that were developed to prevent or minimize their use of tobacco smoking. They found the dissolvable tobacco products as accessible, convenient, attractive, and will only be used to disguise the real use of tobacco. They thought the manufacturer’s ploy was to manipulate users. They expressed the greed of the tobacco companies. They argued that no manufacturer of a product would create something to prevent anyone from using their product. The female participants were not comfortable with putting these products in their mouths. The attractive packaging of the product would in fact entice persons to smoke instead of deterring them. Participants found the product packaging as “fun and recreational” because these were their favorite . In fact, the e-cigarettes that were used by persons who wanted to stop smoking were thought to be bad for your health.
All of these products were thought to be an opening for smoking. About half the participants, both those who smoke and those who do not, said that they were willing to try these products if it was offered to them. It, therefore, tells us that there has to be close monitoring of young adults who will influence others to become users. These products did not eliminate the total use of tobacco smoking instead they only mask the use of it.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The study could be conducted over a wider demographic area rather than just concentrated in an area where there was not widespread use of these new products. In fact, nearly half of the participants had not seen nor used any of these products before. The number was too limited and also there were fewer men used in the survey than women. The topic of the research was not clearly written. There were no variables, so it was hard to say definitively what the researchers wanted to prove.
Many young people at some point in their lives have experimented with cigarette so there should be more participants. Other methods could be used to collect data instead of using just the thematic approach. The researchers could use questionnaires to augment the collection process. The use of questionnaires is more practical and can be used to collect a large amount of data in the shortest possible time.
There was too much of what the participants feel or think about the product rather than what they think the use of it could achieve. The period of conducting the research was too short. Selected participant who are heavy smokers could be given these products for use over a period and be observed to see the effect of the product on them.
Conclusion
Studies are being conducted on the health hazards of smoking. A study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine questioned whether e-cigarette is a safe way for quitting. This study put forward lacks depth and the lack of evidence of Literature
Review is obvious. The researchers could have investigated the harmful effects of these products to aid quitting and could have taken a different path in putting forth this research. There are no recommendations neither is there any specifically stated interest group to whom the study is addressing.
Works Cited
Boyatzis, R.E. (1998) Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code
development. Thousand Oaks, London, & New Delhi: SAGE Publications.
Lewit, Eugene M.; Coate, Douglas; and Grossman, Michael. "The Effects of Government
Regulation on Teenage Smoking." Journal of Law and Economics, Vol. XXIV, No.
3, (December 1981), pp. 273-298.
Simon, Harvey B. (2011) Electronic Cigarettes: Help or Hazard.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/electronic-cigarettes-help-or-hazard-
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