Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40389893›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

Analysis of physicians' statements on electronic cigarettes in YouTube videos in Türkiye: a thematic content analysis.

Ersan Gürsoy, Mehmet Vatansever

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. 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
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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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.

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4 · The record

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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

2 authors.

Ersan GürsoyDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, 24100, Erzincan, Turkey. ersan.gursoy@erzincan.edu.tr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5020-412X
Mehmet VatanseverDepartment of Family Medicine, Trabzon Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundElectronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become increasingly popular among both adults and young people seeking to quit smoking and have sparked significant debates regarding their health effects. The current study aims to analyze how physicians' opinions in Türkiye address public health risks by examining the most-watched electronic cigarette videos on YouTube.

methodsThe 16 most-watched YouTube videos in Türkiye featuring physicians discussing e-cigarettes were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The videos were chosen from searches conducted between April 2024 and December 2024 with the keywords "electronic cigarette," "electronic cigarette use," "harm of e-cigarettes," "are e-cigarettes harmful," "e-cigarette benefits," "e-cigarette doctor" and "e-cigarette Physician." Videos over 1 min with physicians as primary speakers and at least 1,000 views were included. The verbal content of physicians' opinions in the videos was transcribed verbatim, and the analyzed videos were categorized into four main themes and eight sub-themes.

resultsThe analysis of the videos revealed that physicians emphasized the physical and psychological health risks of e-cigarettes, particularly their detrimental effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Nicotine addiction was highlighted as a persistent issue, with e-cigarettes perpetuating dependence rather than serving as a smoking cessation tool. Additionally, marketing strategies targeting younger demographics, such as flavored products and appealing advertisements, were identified as a significant factor in shaping misconceptions about the relative safety of e-cigarettes. While some physicians acknowledged a reduction in certain harmful substances compared to traditional cigarettes, the majority emphasized the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes and warned against assuming these products are less harmful.

conclusionThe findings reveal that physicians on YouTube predominantly adopt a cautious approach toward e-cigarettes, emphasizing their health risks and potential to perpetuate nicotine addiction. Marketing strategies targeting younger audiences were identified as a significant factor influencing public perceptions. These insights highlight the importance of health professionals engaging on digital platforms to address misconceptions and promote accurate, evidence-based information about e-cigarettes.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelElectronic Nicotine Delivery SystemsPhysiciansSocial MediaVideo RecordingAdultFemaleHumansMaleElectronic cigarettePhysician perspectivesPublic healthThematic analysisYouTube

Identifiers

PMID40389893
PMCPMC12087197

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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.