Online Program

281136
Dissolvable tobacco test marketing in three u.s. cities


Monday, November 4, 2013 : 3:10 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Kimberly G. Wagoner, DrPH, MPH, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Kathleen Egan, MS, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Mark Wolfson, PhD, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
John Spangler, MD, MPH, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NY
Erin L. Sutfin, PhD, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Beth A. Reboussin, PhD, Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Eun-Young Song, PhD, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
The study will present data on the availability and point of purchase marketing strategies for dissolvable tobacco, a new smokeless tobacco product currently being test marketed in Charlotte, NC; Denver, CO; and Wichita, KS. These products are in the form of dissolvable strips, orbs and sticks They contain finely milled tobacco, and are designed to dissolve in the mouth, eliminating the need to spit. In Spring 2013, a random sample of 170 stores within each test market area (for a total of 510 stores), will be visited for data collection, allowing us to estimate the proportion of stores which sell dissolvables (outlet density) in each test market area. In addition, interior and exterior advertising, price, and promotions of dissolvables and other tobacco products will be assessed by pairs of trained observers. To assess customer demand and product acceptance, a subsample of store clerks will be interviewed. Of particular interest will be to determine if these products are marketed primarily to smokers. Study results will provide insight as to the environmental factors that may contribute to trying these new tobacco products. Implications for tobacco policy and prevention efforts will be discussed.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Define what dissolvable tobacco products are. Evaluate the availability of dissolvable tobacco products in test markets. List point-of-purchase marketing strategies used of dissolvable tobacco products.

Keyword(s): Tobacco

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Wagoner's research focuses on substance abuse prevention. Current interests inclue examining environmental factors that impact alcohol and tobacco use among youth and young adults and using CBPR methods to design, implement, and evaluate community interventions. She currently participates in a number of federal and state funded research studies in the areas of alcohol policy, youth access to alcohol, high-risk alcohol use among college students, and tobacco use among young adults.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.