Active Research
Electronic cigarettes in Latin America: Evaluation of impacts and policy options
E-cigarettes are rapidly spreading around the world, including to low- and middle-income countries. This study is characterizing the patterns of e-cigarette use in Mexico and Guatemala and assessing the public health impact of policies used to regulate them. Project activities will strengthen the research capacity in Guatemala and Mexico to address e-cigarettes, as well as other emerging products, such as flavor capsule cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Research Activity: Collect observational, experimental and product data on e-cigarettes in Mexico and Guatemala, ultimately using these data in simulation models to identify e-cigarette policies that are most likely to benefit public health.
Funding Agency: Fogarty International Center/NIH (PIs Thrasher & Barnoya, R01 TW010652)
People: Jim Thrasher (PI), Joaquín Barnoya (PI), James Hardin (Co-Investigator), José Monzón (Co-Investigator), Adebusola Ogunnaike, Yoojin Cho, Farahnaz Islam, Brian Senk, Victoria Lambert, Julia Budiongan, Edna Arillo-Santillán, Katia Gallegos, Inti Barrientos, Rosibel Rodriguez, Liz Cruz,
Evaluating how tobacco control policies are shaping the nicotine delivery market
This project will collect experimental, observational and laboratory evidence on vaporized nicotine products (VNPs) across countries (US, UK, Canada) to assess how the policy environment influences uptake of and transitions from smoked tobacco to VNPs, as well as to validate methods for predicting responses to different VNP regulatory strategies.
Funding agency: National Cancer Institute/NIH (PIs KM Cummings & G Fong, P01 CA200512)
People: Jim Thrasher, Yoojin Cho, Emily Loud
Patient decision aid about electronic cigarettes
This project involved collecting pilot data from physicians and smokers to assess needs, utility and feasibility assessment of integrating an iPad delivered patient decision aid on information about electronic cigarettes for use in clinical encounters. Based on positive results for the intervention, we have developed an NIH proposal to conduct a cluster-randomized trial, which is under review.
Funding agency: Greenville Hospital System (PI Thrasher); ASPIRE, University of South Carolina (PI Strayer).
People/Students: Jim Thrasher, Emily Loud, Charity Ntansah
Completed Research (Selected Projects)
Factors Associated With the Changes in Smoking and Electronic cigarette use in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Analysis
This study examined the factors associated with adolescents’ smoking and e-cigarette use during COVID-19 in a longitudinal cohort study. In a sample of Latin American adolescents, findings suggest that smoking and e-cigarette use and susceptibility to use either product is associated with ad exposures and the use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes among friends and family, even during social distancing and lockdown periods.
Funding Agency: U.S. National Institutes of Health (R01 TW010652).
People: Dèsirée Vidaña-Pérez (PI), Sophia Mus, José Monzón, Gustavo Dávila, Natalie Fahsen, Joaquin Barnoya, James F Thrasher (Co-Investigator)
Heated tobacco product use frequency, smoking quit attempts, and smoking reduction among Mexican adult smokers
Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are promoted as less harmful than cigarettes; nonetheless, whether HTPs help smokers quit is uncertain. This study surveyed Mexican adult smokers on their HTPs use frequency, smoking quit attempts, and smoking reduction. Among Mexican adult smokers, frequency of HTP use was mostly not associated with either cessation behaviors or changes in cigarette consumption, suggesting that HTPs have limited to no effectiveness for smoking cessation.
Funding Agency: Fogarty International Center of the US National Institutes of Health (R01 TW010652)
People: Lizeth Cruz-Jiménez (PI), Inti Barrientos-Gutiérrez, Dèsirée Vidaña-Pérez (Co-Investigator),
Katia Gallegos-Carrillo, Edna Arillo-Santillán, Rosibel Rodríguez-Bolaños, James W
Hardin, Minji Kim, James F Thrasher (Co-Investigator)
Transitions between tobacco products: Correlates of changes in cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use among exclusive adult smokers and dual users in Mexico
This study examined transitions in tobacco products use among Mexican smokers and dual users. Data were analyzed from exclusive smokers and dual users recruited from an online consumer research panel and surveyed every-four months from November 2018 to April 2021. Smoking transitions (dual use, exclusive smoke use, or quitting both products) differed among dual users and exclusive smokers. Close social network members who use tobacco products influence transitions. For example, dual users with friends using e-cigarettes were less likely to become an exclusive smoker or to quit. On the other hand, exclusive smokers with friends using e-cigarette were more likely to take-up e-cigarette use. Our findings suggest that considering these distinctions between smokers and their social network should be considered when developing tobacco control policies and programs.
Funding Agency: Fogarty International Center of the US National Institutes of Health (R01 TW010652).
People: Katia Gallegos-Carrillo, Inti Barrientos-Gutiérrez, Edna Arillo-Santillán, Rosibel
Rodríguez-Bolaños, Lizeth Cruz-Jiménez, Vidaña-Pérez Desirée, Yoo Jin Cho, James F.
Thrasher
To use or not to use electronic cigarettes? Reasons for use, stopping use and their behavioural sequelae among Mexicans who smoke
Reasons for using and stopping the use of e-cigarettes and their associations with transitions in nicotine product use are relatively unknown in countries with e-cigarette bans, such as Mexico. In the study, an open cohort of smokers in Meixco were surveyed every 4 months from for 3 years on their reasons for use, stopping use, and continued behaviors. In our sample, we found that people who smoke and use e-cigarettes are less likely to return to exclusive smoking if they 1) use e-cigarettes because they are less harmful to others, 2) believe e-cigarettes are helpful for quitting smoking or controlling weight. People who smoker and formerly used e-cigarettes but stopped because they were not satisfactory were less likely to use e-cigarettes again at follow-up. People who smoke and use e-cigarettes because they find them enjoyable are less likely to either return to exclusively smoking or to quit smoking
Funding Agency: Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health (R01 TW010653)
People: Katia Gallegos Carrillo, Dèsirée Vidaña-Pérez, Inti Barrientos-Gutierrez, Edna Arillo-Santillán,
Lizeth Cruz-Jiménez, Rosibel Rodríguez-Bolaños, James F Thrasher
Why Smoke Flavor Capsule Cigarettes? Preferences and Perceptions Among Adult Smokers in Mexico
Flavor capsules are rapidly growing in popularity in many countries around the world, including Mexico. This study found that more Mexican adult smokers prefer brand varieties with capsules (60%) than without capsules (40%), that flavor capsule use strongly correlates with menthol cigarette use, and that perceived flavors of capsules range widely. Flavor capsule smokers have more positive smoking expectancies (eg, lower risk perceptions, dietary control) than noncapsule smokers. Capsules appeal particularly to women, young adults, less frequent smokers, and those who recently tried to quit. Policies should consider banning flavors in cigarettes, including capsules and other filter innovations.
Funding Agency: Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health (R01 TW010652)
People: Adebusola Ogunnaike, Katia Gallegos-Carrillo, Inti Barrientos-Gutierrez, Edna Arillo Santillán, Yoo Jin Cho, James F Thrasher
Evaluation of a Smoking Cessation Patient Decision Aid That Integrates Information About E-Cigarettes
Smokers increasingly use e-cigarettes to try to quit smoking, even more than recommended cessation methods. However, few smokers discuss the range of cessation options with their physicians. Decision aids can inform smokers about smoking cessation options, including evidence about e-cigarettes, and encourage smokers to engage in shared decision making with their physician. Smokers use e-cigarettes more than recommended cessation methods when they are trying to quit smoking, yet few physicians discuss the risks and benefits of e-cigarettes with their patients who smoke. This study presents preliminary findings about the feasibility and usability of a clinically based iPad-delivered smoking cessation decision aid that integrates information about e-cigarettes. Although promising, further research with randomized designs, larger samples, and longer-term follow-up is needed to determine whether this type of intervention can effectively promote cessation of all tobacco products and, for those not ready to quit smoking, the use of e-cigarettes for harm reduction.
Funding Agency: Greenville Health System (now Prisma Health) Transformative Seed Grant.
People: Christy Kollath-Cattano, James F Thrasher, Ramzi G Salloum, Andrew W Albano, Meenu Jindal, Martin Durkin, Scott M Strayer
Gallegos-Carrillo K, Vidaña-Pérez D, Barrientos-Gutierrez I, Arillo-Santillán E, Cruz-Jimenez L, Rodriguez-Bolaños R, Thrasher JF. To use or not to use electronic cigarettes? Reasons for use, stopping use, and their behavioral sequelae among Mexicans who smoke. Tobacco Control. In press.
Sóñora G, Reynales-Shigematsu LM, Barnoya J, Llorente B, Szklo A, Thrasher JF. Achievements, challenges, priorities and needs to address the current tobacco epidemic in Latin America. Tobacco Control. 31(2):138-141. 2022.
Cho YJ, Thrasher JF, Driezen P, Hitchman S, Reid J, Hammond D. Trends in exposure to and perceptions of e-cigarette marketing among youth in England, Canada, and the United States between 2017 and 2019. Health Education Research. 36(6), 657-668. 2022.
Electronic cigarettes in Latin America: Evaluation of impacts and policy options
E-cigarettes are rapidly spreading around the world, including to low- and middle-income countries. This study is characterizing the patterns of e-cigarette use in Mexico and Guatemala and assessing the public health impact of policies used to regulate them. Project activities will strengthen the research capacity in Guatemala and Mexico to address e-cigarettes, as well as other emerging products, such as flavor capsule cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Research Activity: Collect observational, experimental and product data on e-cigarettes in Mexico and Guatemala, ultimately using these data in simulation models to identify e-cigarette policies that are most likely to benefit public health.
Funding Agency: Fogarty International Center/NIH (PIs Thrasher & Barnoya, R01 TW010652)
People: Jim Thrasher (PI), Joaquín Barnoya (PI), James Hardin (Co-Investigator), José Monzón
(Co-Investigator), Adebusola Ogunnaike, Yoojin Cho, Farahnaz Islam, Brian Senk, Victoria
Lambert, Julia Budiongan, Edna Arillo-Santillán, Katia Gallegos, Inti Barrientos,
Rosibel Rodriguez, Liz Cruz,
Title: Electronic cigarettes in Latin America: Evaluation of impacts and policy options
Funding agency: Fogarty International Center/NIH (R01 TW010652)
PI: James F. Thrasher (with Joaquin Barnoya)
Amount: $1,283,051
Dates: 05/2018 – 01/2024
Role: Primary Investigator (15% effort) – Collect observational, experimental and product data on e-cigarettes in Mexico and Guatemala, using these data in simulation models to identify e-cigarette policies that will most likely benefit public health.
Emerging