BACKGROUND: Although not FDA-approved as cessation aids, alternative tobacco products (ATPs), including electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products (HTPs), and modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs) are often marketed as harm-reduction aids. Given the growing influence of social media in shaping health beliefs, this study examined the association between exposure to general health information on social media and belief about ATPs role in smoking cessation. METHODS: = 6043). The outcome variable assessed participants' belief about whether ATPs can help individuals quit smoking. Exposure to general health information on social media was measured using five survey items. Weighted bivariate and multivariable multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the data. RESULTS: = .02) as helpful quitting aids. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to general health information on social media was associated with belief about ATPs as smoking cessation tools among U.S. adult social media users. Public health communication should integrate digital strategies to counter misinformation and promote evidence-based cessation support.
Ahuja et al. (Thu,) studied this question.