Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37137701›Full record

ArticleTobacco control2024

A comprehensive content analysis of 104 Chinese electronic cigarette manufacturing enterprise official websites.

Hui Deng, Ling Fang, Lingyun Zhang, Xiaotao Yan, Fan Wang, Xinyu Hao, Pinpin Zheng

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tobacco control, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hui Deng *Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Ling Fang *Department of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Lingyun ZhangDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaotao YanDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Fan WangFudan Development Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.ORCID 0000-0002-1869-4552
Xinyu HaoSchool of Politics and International Relations, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
Pinpin ZhengDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Health Education, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China zpinpin@shmu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0003-3902-2955

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe goal was to analyse website content of Chinese electronic (e) cigarette manufacturing enterprises and understand the marketing strategies to provide evidence for decision-makers to regulate manufacturers.

methodsThrough QCC.com, one of the largest enterprise information query platforms in China, we identified 104 official manufacturer websites in 2021. A codebook including 6 sections with 31 items was developed and all webpages were coded separately by two trained researchers.

resultsOver half of the websites (56.7%) did not have age verification for entry. Thirty-two (30.8%) websites had no restriction for minors to use or purchase e-cigarettes, and 79 (76.0%) had no health warning. Overall, 99 websites (95.2%) displayed their products, and 72 (69.2%) displayed e-flavours. The most frequently used descriptions of products included good taste (68.3%), positive mood (62.5%), leakage resistance (56.7%), enjoyment (47.1%), reduced harm (45.2%), alternatives to cigarettes (43.3%) and long battery life (42.3%). Additionally, 75 websites (72.1%) provided contact information on different channels, including WeChat (59.6%), Weibo (41.3%), Facebook (13.5%), Instagram (12.5%) and brand apps (2.9%). Manufacturers provided investment and franchise information (59.6%) and offline store information (17.3%). In addition, 41.3% websites included content regarding corporate social responsibility.

conclusionsChinese e-cigarette manufacturers' official websites have become a platform for presenting product and brand information, establishing online and offline marketing loops, and displaying corporate social responsibility with weak age restrictions on access and a lack of health warnings. The Chinese government should implement strict regulatory measures on e-cigarette enterprises.

Indexed as

Electronic Nicotine Delivery SystemsInternetMarketingChinaHumansTobacco IndustryVapingadvertising and promotionelectronic nicotine delivery devicesmedia

Identifiers

PMID37137701
PMCPMC11503047

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.