Electronic cigarette usage patterns: a case study combining survey and social media data. (13th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhan, Yongcheng; Etter, Jean-François; Leischow, Scott; Zeng, Daniel
• Is Part Of: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. Volume 26:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 2018-12-13
• Subjects: electronic cigarette -- use pattern -- survey -- social media -- health informatics -- public health surveillance; Medical informatics -- Periodicals; Information Services -- Periodicals; Medical Informatics -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Informatica; Geneeskunde; Informatique médicale; Computer network resources; Electronic journals; 610.285
• DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocy140
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1067-5027

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To identify who were social media active e-cigarette users, to compare the use patterns from both survey and social media data for data triangulation, and to jointly use both datasets to conduct a comprehensive analysis on e-cigarette future use intentions. Materials and Methods: We jointly used an e-cigarette use online survey (n = 5132) and a social media dataset. We conducted analysis from 3 different perspectives. We analyzed online forum participation patterns using survey data. We compared e-cigarette use patterns, including brand and flavor types, ratings, and purchase approaches, between the 2 datasets. We used logistic regression to study intentions to use e-cigarettes using both datasets. Results: Male and younger e-cigarette users were the most likely to participate in e-cigarette-related discussion forums. Forum active survey participants were hardcore vapers. The e-cigarette use patterns were similar in the online survey data and the social media data. Intention to use e-cigarettes was positively related to e-liquid ratings and flavor ratings. Social media provided a valuable source of information on users' ratings of e-cigarette refill liquids. Discussion: For hardcore vapers, social media data were consistent with online survey data, which suggests that social media may be useful to study e-cigarette use behaviors and can serve as a useful complement to online survey research. We proposed an innovative framework for social media data triangulation in public health studies. Conclusion: We illustrated how social media data, combined with online survey data, can serve as a new and rich information source for public health research.