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Research paper
Content analysis of e-cigarette products, promotions, prices and claims on Internet tobacco vendor websites, 2013–2014
  1. Rebecca S Williams1,2,
  2. Jason Derrick1,
  3. Aliza K Liebman3,
  4. Kevin LaFleur1
  1. 1Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
  2. 2Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
  3. 3Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Rebecca S Williams, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27510, USA; rebeccawilliams{at}unc.edu

Abstract

Objective To identify the population of Internet e-cigarette vendors (IEVs) and conduct content analysis of products sold and IEVs’ promotional, claims and pricing practices.

Methods Multiple sources were used to identify IEV websites, primarily complex search algorithms scanning over 180 million websites. In 2013, 32 446 websites were manually screened, identifying 980 IEVs, with the 281 most popular selected for content analysis. This methodology yielded 31 239 websites for manual screening in 2014, identifying 3096 IEVs, with 283 selected for content analysis.

Results While the majority of IEVs (71.9%) were US based in 2013, this dropped to 64.3% in 2014 (p<0.01), with IEVs located in at least 38 countries, and 12% providing location indicators reflecting two or more countries, complicating jurisdictional determinations.

Reflecting the retail market, IEVs are transitioning from offering disposable and ‘cigalike’ e-cigarettes to larger tank and “mod” systems. Flavored e-cigarettes were available from 85.9% of IEVs in 2014, with fruit and candy flavors being most popular. Most vendors (76.5%) made health claims in 2013, dropping to 43.1% in 2014. Some IEVs featured conflicting claims about whether or not e-cigarettes aid in smoking cessation. There was wide variation in pricing, with e-cigarettes available as inexpensive as one dollar, well within the affordable range for adults and teens.

Conclusions The number of Internet e-cigarette vendors grew threefold from 2013 to 2014, far surpassing the number of Internet cigarette vendors (N=775) at the 2004 height of that industry. New and expanded regulations for online e-cigarette sales are needed, including restrictions on flavors and marketing claims.

  • advertising and promotion
  • electronic nicotine delivery devices
  • public policy
  • surveillance and monitoring
  • tobacco industry

https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-053762

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors JD had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: RW. Acquisition, analysis or interpretation of data: all authors. Drafting of the manuscript: RW, JD, AKL. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: all authors. Statistical analysis: JD. Obtained funding: RW. Administrative, technical or material support: RW and JD. Study supervision: RW.

    • Funding This study was funded by grant 5R01CA169189-02 from the National Cancer Institute.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.