Young Adult JUUL Users' Beliefs About JUUL

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test beliefs (risks to individual health, tobacco industry affiliation, and harm to others) with young adult current JUUL users to prompt decreased JUUL use. Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was used. Undergraduates aged 18-24 years at a large southwest university who owned and used a JUUL at least once a week completed an online survey (n = 667) in March 2019. Participant reactions to 6 JUUL-specific statements (harm to lungs and brain, tobacco industry ownership, communication device inside JUUL, harm to others and the environment) were assessed. Then, 51 participants completed an inperson interview 1-2 weeks later to explain what influenced their responses. Results: Across beliefs, females were more likely and those who used other tobacco products were less likely to say they would reduce JUUL use. Beliefs about harm to the brain, others, and the environment had the most influence on interview participants. Tobacco industry affiliation with JUUL was not viewed negatively and likely would not affect participant decisions. Conclusions: Messaging developed for other tobacco products may not have the same impact with young adult JUUL users. These findings provide guidance to tobacco use regulators by informing marketing message regulations to prevent initiation or prolonged use of JUUL and other pod-based products. (C) 2020 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study found that beliefs about harm to the brain, others, and the environment had the most influence on JUUL users, with females more likely to decrease JUUL use and those who used other tobacco products less likely to do so. Tobacco industry affiliation with JUUL did not have a negative impact on participant decisions.