Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The availability and use of electronic (“e”) cigarettes has risen rapidly in the last three years with an estimated 2.1 million people using e-cigarettes in the UK in 2014 and 15.7 million in the USA in 2013. E-cigarettes have the potential to be both beneficial and harmful. The main potential benefit is that they may help current smokers to stop using tobacco cigarettes. The main potential harm is that they may encourage children to start using tobacco cigarettes through the presentation of glamorous images associated with objects that resemble cigarettes. In this study, we look at whether exposing children to adverts depicting e-cigarettes as glamorous increases the appeal of tobacco smoking, appeal being a predictor of subsequent tobacco use. We also look at whether exposing participants to adverts emphasizing the potential health benefits of e-cigarettes reduces the appeal of tobacco smoking.
Who can participate?
Young people aged 11-16 from the UK.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of three groups. Those in group one are shown a series of pictures associating e-cigarettes with glamour. Those in group two are shown a series of pictures associating e-cigarettes with potential health benefits and an aid to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes. Those in group 3 are not shown any pictures (control group). All participates are asked to fill in a questionnaire and are asked some questions on their responses to the advertisements and how appealing they find tobacco and e-cigarettes. They also answer some questions about their own experiences with e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes.
What are possible benefits and risks of participating?
The public health community has raised concerns that e-cigarette adverts might influence how appealing children find tobacco, but currently evidence is lacking. The present study will contribute to a better understanding of how children perceive e-cigarette adverts and whether and how these adverts might influence the appeal of tobacco smoking in children. The present study will contribute to evidence that can form the basis for policy aimed at protecting children. We do not envisage the study will result in any anxiety or discomfort.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2015 to July 2015.
Where is the study run from?
The Behaviour and Health Research Unit at the University of Cambridge in collaboration with ICM Direct.
Who is funding the study?
Department of Health Policy Research Programme (Policy Research Unit in Behaviour and Health [PR-UN-0409-10109]) (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Professor Theresa Marteau
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Exposure to e-cigarette adverts and the appeal of tobacco smoking in children: an experimental study
Acronym
Study hypothesis
There is growing concern about the marketing of e-cigarettes and in particular the potential for this to attract young children not just to e-cigarettes but also to tobacco smoking. Some e-cigarette adverts emphasise the glamorous aspects of using these products, and others emphasise their health benefits. Our primary hypothesis is that exposure of children to e-cigarette adverts that emphasise glamour increases the appeal of tobacco. Our secondary hypothesis is that exposure to adverts emphasizing the potential health benefits of e-cigarettes reduces the appeal of tobacco smoking.
Ethics approval
Cambridge Psychology Research Ethics Committee, 11/12/2014, ref: 014.103
Study design
A between-subjects experimental design in which participants are randomised to one of three groups differing in the exposure to e-cigarette adverts.
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Home
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Condition
Tobacco smoking, which causes cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke and heart disease.
Intervention
Exposure to e-cigarette adverts in two of three groups:
1. Exposure to adverts associating e-cigarettes with glamour (e.g., attractive design, socially appealing, high tech)
2. Exposure to adverts associating e-cigarettes with function (e.g., health claims, aid to smoking cessation)
3. Exposure to no adverts (control)
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
The primary outcome is appeal towards smoking tobacco cigarettes
Secondary outcome measures
1. Attitudes towards tobacco smoking
2. Susceptibility to tobacco smoking
3. Estimates of smoking rates among young people
4. Appeal of e-cigarettes
5. Attitudes towards e-cigarettes adverts
Overall trial start date
01/05/2015
Overall trial end date
15/12/2015
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
The following inclusion criteria are applied:
1. Age: 11-16 years old
2. Gender: Both male and female participants are recruited
3. Location: Participants across the UK are recruited. However, only participants in selected sampling units (Super Output Areas; SOA) can participate, as per our sampling procedure
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Child
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
572 participants will be recruited to the study. 429 participants provide 90% power at p = .01 to detect a medium-size difference (d = .46) between the “glamour” condition and the control condition, and a similar sized difference (but in the opposite direction) between the “function" condition and the control condition. Given we plan to investigate the effects of e-cigarette marketing on those who have never smoked, we have overpowered the study by 25%, to accommodate the removal of the estimated proportion of children who have smoked cigarettes (22%; HSCIC, 2014) or e-cigarettes (10%, 90% of whom are smokers; HSCIC, 2014).
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Age: participants aged younger than 11 or older than 16 years old
2. Location: Participants outside the selected UK SOAs
Recruitment start date
01/05/2015
Recruitment end date
13/06/2015
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Behaviour and Health Research Unit
University of Cambridge
Institute of Public Health
Forvie Site
Cambridge
CB2 0SR
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Department of Health Policy Research Programme
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
We intend to submit the main results of this study for publication in a high-impact factor journal by 15/12/2015. We will disseminate the results to the public, policy makers and other researchers through targeted social media.
Intention to publish date
15/12/2015
Participant level data
Not expected to be available
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary