Table 1.
Median and Mean rank for the Initial Health messages on all 3 constructs combined Accuracy, Persuasiveness and Clarity
| Relative risk health messages | Percentiles 50th median [25th-75th] | Mean rank |
|---|---|---|
| RRM1. [EC]a are likely to be 95% less harmful than smoking | 3.83 [2.58–4.67] | 13.83 |
| RRM2. [EC] reduce smoking related health risks by 95% | 3.83 [2.83–4.08] | 11.33 |
| RRM3. Smoking is 95% more harmful than vaping | 2.5 [1.58–3.67] | 3.92 |
| RRM4. No product is completely safe but use of this product is much less harmful than smoking | 3.67 [3–4.17] | 12.92 |
| RRM5. Use of this product is much less harmful than smoking1 | 4.17 [3–4.75] | 16.92 |
| RRM6. No tobacco related product is safe but this product presents substantially lower risks to health than cigarettes | 3.33 [3–3.75] | 9.58 |
| RRM7. This product presents substantially lower risks to health than cigarettes5 | 4.17 [3.58–4.33] | 18.08 |
| RRM8. [Completely] switching to [EC] reduces your health risks2 | 4 [3.5–4.33] | 15.42 |
| RRM9. [Completely] switching to [EC] reduces your cancer risk | 3.83 [3.5–4.42] | 15.33 |
| RRM10. Switching to e-cigarettes improves your health | 3.17 [2.5–3.67] | 5 |
| RRM11. [Completely] switching to [EC] lowers your risk of smoking related diseases6 | 4.17 [3.67–4.33] | 17.42 |
| RRM12. This product is a safer alternative to smoking3 | 4.33 [3.33–5] | 20.33 |
| RRM13. This product is a safer alternative for smokers | 4.33 [3.33–5] | 20.33 |
| RRM14. Switching to [EC] reduces damage to your lungs | 3.33 [3–4.5] | 13.67 |
| RRM15. Switching to [EC] reduces your chances of developing cancer | 3.83 [3.58–4] | 12.92 |
| RRM16. [EC] contain no tar, the toxic component of smoke | 4 [3.42–4.33] | 14.92 |
| RRM17. [EC] contain far fewer toxins than tobacco cigarettes | 3.67 [3.5–4.33] | 13.17 |
| RRM18. [EC] reduce harmful toxin exposure to those around you | 3.67 [3.33–3.75] | 12.17 |
| RRM19. [EC] reduce exposure to second-hand smoke | 3.67 [3–4] | 11.75 |
| RRM20 Completely switching to [EC] is a healthier alternative to smoking7 | 3.5 [2.5–4.42] | 19.75 |
| RRM21 It is recommended that smokers should switch to [EC] 8 | 3.5 [2.5–4.42] | 11.08 |
| RRM22 Many smokers who switch to e-cigarettes report improved health8 | 3.67 [2.92–4.17] | 12.75 |
| RRM23 Like other smokers, if you switch to e-cigarettes you will experience improved health | 3.67 [2–4] | 9 |
| RRM24 Using an e-cigarette improves your chances of quitting4 | 3.83 [3.25–4.33] | 14.33 |
| RRM25. Using an [EC] doubles your chances of quitting smoking8 | 3.33 [3.17–4.17] | 11.50 |
| RRM26. Using an [EC] reduces cravings for cigarettes | 3.67 [3.25–4.08] | 13.58 |
a[EC] e-cigarettes featured in full; Bold font indicate selected messages (n = 8) further evaluated in this second phase study (N = 983); Friedman test x2(25, n = 6) = 44.02, p = .011 found a significant difference on all 3 constructs combined; Friedman test x2(25, n = 8) = 43.89 p = .011 also revealed the top 8 most recommended messages indicated by lower case superscript numbered 1–8; For messages to abandon, Friedman test x2(25, n = 8) = 35.14, p = .086 found not significant differences but individual experts’ comments and advice on messages to “abandon” vis-à-vis the complexity and length of messages were taken into consideration during the selection process