The Commercial Promotion of Electronic Cigarettes on Social Media and Its Influence on Vaping Initiation and Positive Perceptions of Vaping in Anglophone Countries: A Scoping Review Protocol

Abstract

Introduction: Social media plays a protagonist role in the promotion of addictive substances targeting vulnerable and susceptible groups including adolescents and young adults in contemporary times. Despite the broad evidence of tobacco promotion on popular social media, electronic cigarette advertisement remains a recent public health concern, as is considered an emerging phenomenon. Further research must be developed to address this topic, contributing to improved regulation of the marketing of vaping products. Aims and Objectives: The proposed scoping review aims to clarify key concepts related to e-cigarette promotion on social media, synthesise the relevant evidence related to the topic, and identify gaps that will contribute to further research and policymaking enhancement. Identifying Studies: The databases Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Epistemonikos, Science Citation Index, Cochrane Database of Systematic (CDSR) and CENTRAL will be used to search for relevant studies by using a range of keywords in the search strategy. Study Selection: Studies must comprise individuals over 10 years old living in core anglophone countries. Eligible studies must evaluate the promotion of e-cigarettes on accessible social media platforms, and its influence on vaping uptake and positive perception among the research population. The screening and extraction stage will be held on Covidence through three independent reviews and results will be displayed via a PRISMA flowchart. Reporting the results: Extracted data will be reported through a table and the results presented using a narrative summary. No assessment for risk bias or formal synthesis will be included as this is a scoping review. The results will provide relevant information and recommendations for prospective research.

The commercial promotion of electronic cigarettes on social media and its influence on positive perceptions of vaping and vaping behaviours in Anglophone countries: A scoping review

“…In addition to the Arksey and Malley framework for scoping reviews, this study was also guided by recommendations provided by Levac and collaborators, to enhance a team-based approach to scoping review methodologies [ 38 ]. The methodology of the research was based on a previously published study protocol [ 39 ].…”