Truven Health Analytics-NPR Health Poll Finds Majority of Americans Support FDA Regulation of E-Cigarettes

Half of Those Who Try E-Cigarettes Continue to Use Them Regularly

ANN ARBOR, Mich. & WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A majority of Americans say e-cigarettes should be regulated by the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) the same way the agency handles cigarettes
containing tobacco, according to the Truven Health Analytics-NPR Health
Poll.

Truven
Health Analytics™ and NPR
conduct a bimonthly poll to gauge attitudes and opinions on a wide range
of health issues.

The latest survey asked respondents to share their views and experiences
with e-cigarettes. More than half of all respondents (57 percent) said
they think the FDA should regulate e-cigarettes like tobacco products.
Among those surveyed, 26 percent said they currently use some type of
tobacco product, and 25 percent of all respondents have tried
e-cigarettes. Of those who have tried e-cigarettes, half continue to use
them on a daily or less-than-daily basis.

When asked why they have tried e-cigarettes, more than half said it was
to replace tobacco. Twenty seven percent tried them as a method to quit
smoking, while 26 percent said they tried them as a healthier
alternative or replacement to tobacco. Twenty four percent said
curiosity was the motivating factor behind their e-cigarette use.

Although popularly viewed as less harmful than tobacco, 40 percent of
respondents who have used e-cigarettes said they have health concerns
regarding the product. That number decreases with increasing age, but is
highest among those who have a college degree or higher.

“Electronic cigarettes have exploded in popularity in just a few short
years, but we still know very little about the health risks associated
with the technology,” said Michael Taylor, M.D., Chief Medical Officer
at Truven Health Analytics. “With our data showing a 50 percent adoption
rate among those who have tried e-cigarettes, it’s reasonable to expect
that usage will continue to grow, even as traditional cigarette smoking
declines. This is clearly an area that will require a great deal more
research.”

To date, the Truven Health Analytics-NPR Health Poll has explored
numerous health topics, including generic drugs, vaccines, data privacy,
narcotic painkillers and sports-related concussions. NPR’s reports on
the surveys are archived online at the Shots health blog here.

Truven Health Analytics maintains a library of poll results here.

The Truven Health Analytics-NPR Health Poll is powered by the Truven
Health PULSE® Healthcare Survey, the nation’s largest and
longest-running independently funded, nationally representative
multi-modal poll that collects information about health-related
behaviors and attitudes and healthcare utilization from 82,000 US
households annually. Survey questions are developed in conjunction with
NPR. The figures in this month’s poll are based on 3,006 participants
interviewed from August 1-15, 2015. The margin of error is 1.8 percent.

About Truven Health Analytics

Truven
Health Analytics delivers the answers that clients need to improve
healthcare quality and access while reducing costs. We provide
market-leading performance improvement solutions built on data
integrity, advanced analytics, and domain expertise. For more than 40
years, our insights and solutions have been providing hospitals and
clinicians, employers and health plans, state and federal government
agencies, life sciences companies, and policymakers the facts they need
to make confident decisions that directly affect the health and
well-being of people and organizations in the U.S. and around the world.

Truven Health Analytics owns some of the most trusted brands in
healthcare, such as MarketScan®, 100
Top Hospitals®, Advantage Suite®, Micromedex®,
Simpler, ActionOI®, Heartbeat Experts and JWA. Truven Health has its
principal offices in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Chicago; and Denver. For more
information, please visit truvenhealth.com

About NPR

NPR is an award-winning, multimedia news organization and an influential
force in American life. In collaboration with more than 900 independent
public radio stations nationwide, NPR strives to create a more informed
public – one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and
appreciation of events, ideas and cultures.

Contacts

For Truven Health Analytics
J. Roderick, Inc. Public Relations
Brian
Erni, 631-584-2200
brian@jroderick.com