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Persistent Misperceptions about Nicotine among US Physicians: Results from a Randomized Survey Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Michelle T. Bover Manderski

    (Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
    Rutgers Center for Tobacco Studies, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Michael B. Steinberg

    (Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
    Rutgers Tobacco Dependence Program, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Olivia A. Wackowski

    (Rutgers Center for Tobacco Studies, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
    Department of Health Behavior, Society & Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA)

  • Binu Singh

    (Rutgers Center for Tobacco Studies, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • William J. Young

    (Rutgers Center for Tobacco Studies, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA)

  • Cristine D. Delnevo

    (Rutgers Center for Tobacco Studies, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
    Department of Health Behavior, Society & Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA)

Abstract

We conducted a survey experiment among US physicians to evaluate whether question wording impacted perceptions about the health effects of nicotine. 926 physicians were randomized to receive one of two versions of a question matrix that asked about the “extent to which they agree or disagree that ‘nicotine’ (Version 1) or ‘nicotine, on its own,’ (Version 2) directly contributes to” birth defects, cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, depression, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated whether question condition predicted strong agreement and/or agreement with each statement, and assessed demographic correlates of each outcome while adjusting for question version. Physicians who received Version 2 were less likely to “strongly agree” that nicotine directly caused birth defects (Prevalence Ratio (PR) 0.84, 95% CI 0.72–0.98), CVD (PR 0.89, 95% CI 0.84–0.95), cancer (PR 0.81, 95% CI 0.75–0.87), and COPD (PR 0.78, 95% CI 0.72–0.84). Females were more likely to “strongly agree” that nicotine directly contributes to birth defects and cancer, and family physicians were most likely to “strongly agree” that nicotine directly contributes to CVD, cancer, and COPD. Question wording is important when measuring physicians’ beliefs about nicotine; however, even after accounting for question version, misperceptions about the direct health effects of nicotine were common and varied by sex and specialty.

Suggested Citation

  • Michelle T. Bover Manderski & Michael B. Steinberg & Olivia A. Wackowski & Binu Singh & William J. Young & Cristine D. Delnevo, 2021. "Persistent Misperceptions about Nicotine among US Physicians: Results from a Randomized Survey Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-8, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:14:p:7713-:d:598076
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anastasia Moysidou & Konstantinos E. Farsalinos & Vassilis Voudris & Kyriakoula Merakou & Kallirrhoe Kourea & Anastasia Barbouni, 2016. "Knowledge and Perceptions about Nicotine, Nicotine Replacement Therapies and Electronic Cigarettes among Healthcare Professionals in Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-25, May.
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