Measuring perceptions related to e-cigarettes: Important principles and next steps to enhance study validity.

Measuring perceptions related to e-cigarettes: Important principles and next steps to enhance study validity.
Addict Behav. 2017 Nov 20;:
Authors: Gibson LA, Creamer MR, Breland AB, Giachello AL, Kaufman A, Kong G, Pechacek TF, Pepper JK, Soule EK, Halpern-Felsher B
Abstract
Measuring perceptions associated with e-cigarette use can provide valuable information to help explain why youth and adults initiate and continue to use e-cigarettes. However, given the complexity of e-cigarette devices and their continuing evolution, measures of perceptions of this product have varied greatly. Our goal, as members of the working group on e-cigarette measurement within the Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science (TCORS) network, is to provide guidance to researchers developing surveys concerning e-cigarette perceptions. We surveyed the 14 TCORS sites and received and reviewed 371 e-cigarette perception items from seven sites. We categorized the items based on types of perceptions asked, and identified measurement approaches that could enhance data validity and approaches that researchers may consider avoiding. The committee provides suggestions in four areas: (1) perceptions of benefits, (2) harm perceptions, (3) addiction perceptions, and (4) perceptions of social norms. Across these 4 areas, the most appropriate way to assess e-cigarette perceptions depends largely on study aims. The type and number of items used to examine e-cigarette perception...

Source: Addictive Behaviors - November 20, 2017 Category: Addiction Authors: Gibson LA, Creamer MR, Breland AB, Giachello AL, Kaufman A, Kong G, Pechacek TF, Pepper JK, Soule EK, Halpern-Felsher B Tags: Addict Behav Source Type: research