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).
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://o… 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.