November 27, 2014
November 27, 2014
Stanton A. Glantz, PhD
Stanton A. Glantz, PhD
Ecig study claiming that flavors are important to adults is not meaningful because of sampling problems
The use of flavors in e-cigarettes as a way to attract youth is a major issue. (See public comments on this point submitted to the FDA: 1 2 3 4)
Konstantinos Farsalinos and colleagues published a paper, "Impact of Flavour Variability on Electronic Cigarette Use Experience: An Internet Survey," in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health presenting the results of a survey showing that adult e-cigarette users like flavors.
The problem with this study is that the sample was recruited from the e-cigarette advocacy site www.ecigarette-research.com, which is hardly a random sample of e-cigarette users or potential users (including kids).
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This comment by Professor
This comment by Professor Glantz is confirmed, furthermore, somewhat ironically, here http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.12659/abstract";http://on... Peter Hajek et al. In relation to this study by Dr Farsalinos et al, and other studies (e.g. Dawkins et al, Vaping Profiles and Prefernces: an online survey of electronic cigarette users. Addiction 2013; 108: 1115-11125), Hajek et al state that:
"A number of studies recruited EC users over the internet. These results need to be interpreted with caution, because internet surveys attract primarily EC enthusiasts".
This comment, from fellow e-cigarette enthusiasts is, arguably, somewhat enlightening, as to some of the evidecne-based incongruities inherent in this aspect of the on-going debate.
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