Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39384403›Full record

ArticleTobacco control2026

Effect of packaging with versus without candy-oriented marketing themes on the appeal and sensory attributes of flavoured e-cigarettes.

Nikki S Jafarzadeh, Dae Hee Han, Natalia Peraza, Marissa K Anderson, Alyssa F Harlow, John R Monterosso, Raina D Pang, Tyler B Mason, Kurt Hong, Rael Cahn and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tobacco control, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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

11 authors.

Nikki S JafarzadehDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Dae Hee HanDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-2929-5928
Natalia PerazaInstitute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Marissa K AndersonDepartment of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Alyssa F HarlowDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6744-6988
John R MonterossoInstitute for Addiction Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Raina D PangDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Tyler B MasonDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Kurt HongDepartment of Medicine, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Rael CahnDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Adam M LeventhalDepartment of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA adam.leventhal@usc.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-1217-525X

Funding

USC Tobacco Center of Regulatory ScienceU54CA180905 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI Adam Matthew Leventhal · 2018 to 2026
$39.0M
Tobacco Use Treatment Research for Vulnerable PopulationsK24DA048160 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI Adam Matthew Leventhal · 2019 to 2026
$1.4M
NCI NIH HHS U54 CA180905NIDA NIH HHS K24 DA048160
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

significanceE-cigarettes with candy-themed marketing are implicated in decisions to first try e-cigarettes but have unknown effects on the experience of vaping. We compared adults' perceived appeal and sensory attributes after self-administering flavoured e-cigarettes in experimentally manipulated packaging with candy-themed versus standard marketing. We also assessed effect modification by salt vs free-base nicotine formulation.

methodsAdults who currently used e-cigarettes and/or cigarettes (N=72; age M(SD)=31.4 (12.8) years) completed single-puff self-administrations from eight individually-packaged pods containing fruit or dessert-flavoured e-liquid via staff-guided video sessions. For each e-liquid flavour, we custom-manufactured packaging with standard (eg, 'mango'; mango fruit image) and candy (eg, 'mango gummy bear'; gummy bear image) marketing versions, which we varied within-subject (four pods candy; four pods standard). After participants opened the package and vaped the pod inside, they rated its sensory attributes and appeal (0-100 scale). Participants were randomised between subjects to salt or free-base ~2.3% nicotine in all pods.

resultsMarketing theme had no significant main effects on outcomes. Marketing theme × nicotine formulation interactions were significant; candy-themed (vs standard) packaging elevated composite appeal (B

conclusionCandy-themed marketing may heighten the appeal and sweet sensory experience of vaping flavoured free-base nicotine e-cigarettes. While marketing restrictions are predominantly intended to prevent e-cigarette initiation, candy-themed marketing restrictions could also prevent persistent use by lowering the appeal of flavoured free-base nicotine e-cigarettes.

Indexed as

Electronic Nicotine Delivery SystemsFlavoring AgentsMarketingProduct PackagingVapingAdultConsumer BehaviorFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNicotineTasteYoung AdultFlavoring AgentsNicotineElectronic nicotine delivery devicesNicotinePackaging and labelling

Identifiers

PMID39384403
PMCPMC11978920

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.