Perceptions of oral nicotine pouches & their marketing among Ohio Appalachia smokers and smokeless tobacco users.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) are novel products, gaining popularity and marketed as "tobacco-free" alternatives to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco (SLT), but their public health impact is unknown. This study qualitatively examined ONP appeal and perceptions among cigarette smokers and SLT users from Ohio Appalachia.

Methods

In 2022, we conducted 10 virtual focus groups with smokers (n = 19) and smokeless tobacco users (n = 18) from Appalachia Ohio aged ≥21 to examine perceptions of risks and benefits, substitutability for cigarettes and SLT, and ONP marketing. We transcribed focus groups verbatim, thematically coded transcripts, and analyzed coded data for prominent themes.

Results

Participants perceived ONPs to have similar or less risk than cigarettes/SL

SUBMITTER: Long L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10615305 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature