Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41202027›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Perceived risks, reasons for use, and barriers to cessation among youth who use multiple tobacco products.

Sierra L Patterson, Isabelle Duguid, Sonia A Clark, Seth M Noar, Allison J Lazard, James F Thrasher, Adam O Goldstein, Sarah D Kowitt

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. 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. Barriers to quittingPreventive medicine reports · 2026
    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

8 authors.

Sierra L PattersonDepartment of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0270-7125
Isabelle DuguidDepartment of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
Sonia A ClarkLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
Seth M NoarLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3453-5391
Allison J LazardLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
James F ThrasherDepartment of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, United States of America.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6418-4863
Adam O GoldsteinLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.
Sarah D KowittLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America.

Funding

Cardiovascular Epidemiology Training GrantT32HL007055 · NHLBI · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI Wayne D. Rosamond · 1986 to 2026
$10.0M
Communication Messages to Reduce Youth Multiple Tobacco Product UseK01CA265886 · NCI · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI Sarah Kowitt · 2022 to 2026
$691k
NCI NIH HHS K01 CA265886NHLBI NIH HHS T32 HL007055
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMany interventions aim to reduce youth tobacco use, but few have focused on youth who use multiple tobacco products (MTPs). This qualitative study sought to understand how youth who use MTPs view tobacco product risks, describe reasons for MTP use, and perceive barriers and facilitators to cessation.

methodsWe conducted seven virtual focus groups with 30 US youth ages 14-20 years who reported using e-cigarettes and smoking a combustible tobacco product in the past 30 days. We used a semi-structured focus group guide to ask youth about perceived health risks of tobacco products, reasons for MTP use, and thoughts about quitting. We conducted a thematic analysis of transcripts.

resultsThe mean age of participants was 18.7 years; 47% identified as white. Most participants were female (63%) and lesbian, gay, or bisexual (63%). Three central themes emerged: 1) uncertainty or misperceptions about e-cigarettes were common, including what ingredients they contain, whether they are tobacco products, and their harm relative to cigarettes; 2) convenience and social factors were mentioned as reasons for using MTPs, rather than using e-cigarettes to quit cigarettes; 3) barriers to cessation included nicotine dependence (especially to e-cigarettes) and environmental factors, while cessation resources were rarely mentioned.

conclusionsThese findings suggest that educational interventions to reduce youth MTP use could focus on correcting misperceptions about e-cigarettes and communicating the harms of combustible tobacco use. Furthermore, behavioral interventions could capitalize on peer and social support while acknowledging unique barriers resulting from MTP use, such as high nicotine dependence.

Indexed as

Smoking CessationTobacco ProductsAdolescentAdultElectronic Nicotine Delivery SystemsFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID41202027
PMCPMC12594371

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.