Researchers are turning to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to study the consumer habits and health effects of e-cigarettes, especially among teenagers.
Using a USD 2.7 million, 5-year grant from the US National Institutes of Health, the team will collect data from Facebook, Twitter and several e-cigarette forums among other websites, said Daniel Zeng, co-principal investigator at University of Arizona.
Researchers will use the data to create a real-time, web-based information management system that regulatory agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration and the Centre for Tobacco Products can use to make policy decisions.
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The study will include information on public perceptions of e-cigarettes, typical consumers, public vendors, social media marketing tactics and government interests, azcentral.Com reported.
Mayo Clinic's Dr Scott Leischow, co-principal investigator plans to look at how social media may contribute to the growing use of e-cigarettes among adolescents.
Leischow said it is important users understand that although electronic cigarettes are less dangerous than tobacco cigarettes, the risks are not yet fully understood.